Erica Molinario

Erica Molinario, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). She leads the Motivation and Social Change Lab, focusing on pro-environmental behaviors, political activism, extremism, migration, and intergroup conflicts. Her work integrates motivational perspectives analyzing needs, social identity, and values. Currently, she serves as Co-PI on a U.S. Department of Defense-funded project studying climate change migration and was awarded by the Polish National Science Foundation for research on threats and prosocial/antisocial behaviors. Dr. Molinario collaborates globally, employing qualitative, correlational, and experimental methods across disciplines. Her research addresses radicalization pathways, environmental literacy, and pandemic-induced psychological responses.

Education: Holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus on social and environmental psychology. Specific educational details are not elaborated in the provided text.

Research Interests: Dr. Molinario’s work bridges social psychology and environmental studies, exploring how psychological motivations drive behaviors related to environmental protection, political engagement, and migration. Key themes include:

• Pro-environmental decision-making and sustainable behaviors
• Radicalization dynamics and conspiracy beliefs
• Motivational frameworks (e.g., Significance Quest Theory)
• Intergroup relations and migration intentions
• Psychological responses to crises (e.g., pandemic, conflict)

Grants & Awards:

• Co-Principal Investigator: U.S. Department of Defense grant on climate change migration
• Foundation for Polish Science grant (2024) for threats and prosocial behavior research

Lab & Collaborations: The Motivation and Social Change Lab employs mixed-methods approaches, collaborating with scholars worldwide to address global challenges like climate activism and radicalization. Recent projects include Erasmus+ initiatives on environmental literacy and UNESCO-funded migration studies.

Future Work: Expanding research on pandemic-induced psychological shifts, cultural dimensions of populism, and intervention strategies to reduce radicalization risks.