Gregory J. Feist

Gregory J. Feist is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Social Sciences at San Jose State University, where he leads research on creativity, personality, and the psychology of science. He serves as Founding President of the International Society for the Psychology of Science and Technology and Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychology of Science & Technology, having previously held leadership as Past-President of APA’s Division 10 (Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts).

Feist’s research program investigates the intricate relationship between personality traits and creative achievement, particularly in scientific domains. His work examines how motivation, beliefs, and cognitive styles influence reasoning processes and scientific productivity, with recent expansion into the psychology of climate change. He explores how ideological commitments drive motivated reasoning, where individuals critically evaluate evidence contradicting pre-existing beliefs about environmental issues. This research bridges fundamental personality psychology with urgent societal challenges.

Analysis of his 2020-2024 publications reveals consistent focus on creativity-personality interactions, with significant contributions to understanding creative cognition, linguistic markers of innovation, and psychological barriers to scientific consensus. His 2022 work on climate change reasoning demonstrates how political ideology shapes evidence evaluation, while his handbook contributions establish foundational frameworks for studying individual differences in creative processes.

Though specific advising details are unlisted, Feist’s extensive publication record and professional leadership indicate active mentorship of emerging scholars. His research implications extend to scientific training programs, innovation policy, and science communication strategies for contested issues like climate change.