My research centers on self-regulation, the pursuit of important goals and motives (like achievement, health, and romantic goals) in everyday life, and on how self-regulatory processes can shape subjective experience. Most of my work examines the role of these self-regulatory processes within the context of interpersonal relationships, such as those with family members, friends, and romantic partners. For example, I am interested in how people's relationships affect their ability to achieve goals, and in how their goal pursuits affect the quality of their interpersonal relationships.

Primary Interests:

Applied Social Psychology
Close Relationships
Interpersonal Processes
Motivation, Goal Setting
Social Cognition

Applied Social Psychology
Close Relationships
Interpersonal Processes

Motivation, Goal Setting
Social Cognition

Journal Articles:

Berger, J. M., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2008). Why coastal dwellers may prefer Tide: The effects of indirect environmental cues on evaluation and choice. Journal of Marketing Research, 45, 1-14.
Cavallo, J. C., Fitzsimons, G.M., & Holmes, J. G. (2010). When self-protection overreaches: Relationship-specific threat activates domain-general avoidance motivation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 1-8.
Cavallo, J. C., Fitzsimons, G. M., & Holmes, J. G. (2009). Taking chances in the face of threat: Romantic risk regulation and approach motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 737-751.
Fitzsimons, G. M., Chartrand, T. L., & Fitzsimons, G. J. (2008). Automatic effects of brand exposure on motivated behavior: How Apple makes you “think different.” Journal of Consumer Research, 35, 21-35.
Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Interpersonal influences on self-regulation. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 101-105.
Fitzsimons, G. M., & Fishbach, A. (2010). Shifting closeness: Interpersonal effects of personal goal progress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 535-549.
Fitzsimons, G. M., & Shah, J. (2008). How goal instrumentality shapes relationship evaluations. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 95, 319-337.
Fitzsimons, G. M., & Shah, J. Y. (2009). Confusing one instrumental other for another: Goal effects on social categorization. Psychological Science, 20, 1468-1472.

Courses Taught:

Interpersonal Relationships
Negotiations
Social Cognition

Interpersonal Relationships
Negotiations

Social Cognition

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Grainne Fitzsimons
Fuqua School of Business
Duke University
100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120
Durham, NC 27708
United States

Work: (919) 660-7886
Home: (919) 660-8037