Peter M. Gollwitzer

Peter M. Gollwitzer is a distinguished Professor of Psychology at New York University and University of Konstanz, with expertise spanning social psychology, cognitive processes, and motivation science. Holding dual professorships since 1999 (NYU) and 1993 (Konstanz), he chairs the Social Psychology and Motivation program at Konstanz while leading the Social Psychology Program at NYU.

His academic journey includes:

• B.A. from Universitaet Regensburg (1973)
• M.A. from Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum (1977)
• Ph.D. from University of Texas, Austin (1981)
• Habilitation from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (1988)

Gollwitzer's research revolutionized understanding of goal pursuit through his seminal work on implementation intentions. His theoretical framework distinguishes between goal intentions ('I intend to achieve X') and implementation intentions ('If situation Y arises, then I will do Z'), demonstrating how specific 'if-then' plans enhance goal achievement by automating behavioral responses. His research spans cognitive, social, and neuropsychological dimensions of action control, with applications in health behavior, rehabilitation, and organizational settings.

His scholarly contributions have earned recognition through prestigious fellowships and invited addresses at major international conferences. Research funding has consistently come from top-tier sources including NIH, NSF, German Research Foundation, and Max Planck Society, supporting investigations into stereotype control, action regulation, and self-regulation interventions.

Notable achievements include:

• Direction of the Interdisciplinary Center for Research on Intentions and Intentionality (2000-2005)
• Mentorship of award-winning doctoral students
• Development of theory-based interventions for physician behavior change and stroke rehabilitation
• Integration of cognitive and social perspectives on self-regulation

Gollwitzer maintains active research programs examining the boundaries of volitional processes, with recent work exploring neural correlates of implementation intentions and applications in clinical and organizational contexts.