New York University
SOCIAL PERCEPTION ACTION
and MOTIVATION LAB
Lab Director: Dr. Emily Balcetis
About Us
In the Social Perception Action and Motivation Lab [or SPAM Lab], we pioneer the scientific investigation of behavioral science and motivation. This work also aims to address polarization, addressing questions about the source of differences in judgment and behavior among groups of people. With an international team of scholars, writers, artists, and advocates, we uncover previously unknown strategies that increase, sustain, and direct people's efforts to meet their goals. We apply this investigation of motivational strategies to improving the conditions of underserved populations - those experiencing economic disadvantage, students who are the first to attend college, individuals working in fields where they are underrepresented, and people of racial and ethnic minorities facing bias and discrimination. We focus on issues including diversity in leadership, disparities in health, bias in the legal system, and safety in cyber behavior, among others.
Recent Happenings
Featured Publications
Liaquat, U., Heilman, M. E., Godsil, R. D., Balcetis, E. (2025). Experimental Social Psychology, 117, 104709.
Qu-Lee, J. & Balcetis, E. (2024). Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 18 (8), e12994.
System justification motivation as a source of backlash against equality-promoting policies.
Liaquat, U., Jost, J., & Balcetis, E. (2023). Social Issues and Policy Review, 17, 1, 131-154.
****Named "Top Cited Article" by Wiley Online Library****
The relationship between visual confirmation bias, belief consistency, and belief polarization.
Qu-Lee, J., Siedel, B., Harel, D., Granot, G., & Balcetis, E. (2022). Comprehensive Results in Social Psychology. 1-38.
Motivated perception for self-regulation: How visual experience serves and is served by goals.
Cole, S., & Balcetis, E. (2021). B. Gawronski (Ed.) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 64, 129-186.
Out of reach and under control: Distancing as a self-control strategy.
Cole, S., Dominick, J., & Balcetis, E. (2020). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 47, 6, 939-952.
Balcetis, E., Duncan, D., & Cole, S. (2020). Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7(2), 173-180.
Balcetis, E., Cox, B., Marson, J., Islam, S., Dgheim, D., Terino, B., Brinkman, C., & Vasquez, J. (2020). Journal of Educational & Psychological Research, 2 (2), 114-123.
New York University
Department of Psychology
6 Washington Pl, New York, NY 10003, USA
(212) 998-3998