Psychology Faculty Profiles

Eli J. Finkel, Ph.D.


Associate Professor
Social Psychology

Office: Swift 116
Phone: (847) 491-3212
E-mail: finkel@northwestern.edu



Links

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests (Downloadable Reprints Below)

In the Northwestern Self-Control and Relationships Lab, we conduct research in three primary domains. Here, we list these domains and provide examples of questions that guide our research in each of them:

1. Initial Romantic Attraction: What predicts interpersonal attraction? Do people really know what characteristics they desire in a romantic partner? How do dating innovations like speed-dating and online dating influence the romantic initiation process? [Sample Publication]

2. Interpersonal Conflict: When do people forgive transgressions? What are the consequences of forgiving? When does conflict escalate to the point of violence? [Sample Publication]

3. Self-Control: When and how do interpersonal processes bring out the best vs. the worst in us? What types of social interaction cause us to feel energized versus exhausted? How do self-control processes influence relationship functioning and eating behavior? [Sample Publication]

 

Publications (Updated May 20, 2012)

 

2012 and In Press

Bohns, V. K., Lucas G. M., Molden D. C., Finkel E. J., Coolsen, M. K., Kumashiro M., Rusbult C. E., & Higgins E. T. (in press). When opposites fit: Increased relationship well-being from partner complementarity in regulatory focus. Social Cognition. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Eastwick, P. E. (in press). Interpersonal Attraction: In Search of a Theoretical Rosetta Stone. In J. A. Simpson & J. F. Dovidio (Eds.), Handbook of personality and social psychology: Interpersonal relations and group processes. Washington: American Psychological Association. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Eckhardt, C. I. (in press). Intimate partner violence. In J. A. Simpson & L. Campbell (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of close relationships. Oxford: New York. [Download]

Hannon, P. A., Finkel, E. J., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. E. (in press). The soothing effects of forgiveness on victims’ and perpetrators’ blood pressure. Personal Relationships. [Download]

Tidwell, N. D., Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (in press). Perceived, not actual, similarity predicts initial attraction in a live romantic context: Evidence from the speed-dating paradigm. Personal Relationships. [Download]

Burnette, J. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Buffering against weight gain following dieting setbacks: An implicit theory intervention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 721-725. [Download]

Denson, T. F., DeWall, C. N., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Self-control and aggression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21, 20-25. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). The evolutionary armistice: Attachment bonds moderate the function of ovulatory cycle adaptations. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 174-184. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Slotter, E. B., McNulty, J. K., Pond, R. S., Jr., & Atkins, D. C. (2012). Using I3 theory to clarify when dispositional aggressiveness predicts intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 533-549. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Eastwick, P. W., Karney, B. R., Reis, H. T., & Sprecher, S. (2012). Online dating: A critical analysis from the perspective of psychological science. Psychology Science in the Public Interest, 13, 3-66. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Outsourcing effort to close others. In L. Campbell, J. G. La Guardia, J. M. Olson, & M. P. Zanna (Eds.), The science of the couple: The Ontario symposium (Vol. 12, pp. 41-57). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Herbst, K. C., Finkel, E. J., Allan, D., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2012). On the dangers of pulling a fast one: The effects of advertisement disclaimer speed on purchase intention. Journal of Consumer Research, 38, 909-919. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Lambert, N. M., Pond, R. S., Bodenhausen, G. V., & Fincham, F. D. (2012). Putting the brakes on aggression toward a romantic partner: The inhibitory influence of relationship commitment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 291-305. [Download]

Stanton, S. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Too tired to take offense: When depletion promotes forgiveness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 587-590. [Download]

2011

DeWall, C. N., Finkel, E. J., & Denson, T. F. (2011). Self-control inhibits aggression. Social & Personality Psychology Compass, 458-472. [Download]

DeWall, C. N., Lambert, N. M., Slotter, E. B., Deckman, T., Pond, R. D., Finkel, E. J., Luchies†, L. B., & Fincham, F. D. (2011). So far away from one’s partner, yet so close to romantic alternatives: Avoidant attachment, interest in alternatives, and infidelity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 1302-1316. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., Eagly, A. H., Finkel, E. J., & Johnson, S. E. (2011). Implicit and explicit preferences for physical attractiveness in a romantic partner: A double dissociation in predictive validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 993-1011. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., & Eagly, A. H. (2011). When and why do ideal partner preferences affect the processes of initiating and maintaining romantic relationships? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 11, 1012-1032. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2011). The effects of social relationships on self-regulation. In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed., pp 390-406). New York: Guilford Press. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-a). The effects of self-regulation on social relationships. In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed., pp. 407-421). New York: Guilford Press. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-b). Outsourcing self-regulatory effort to significant others. Psychological Science, 22, 369-375. [Download]

Ireland, M. E., Slatcher, R. B., Eastwick, P. W., Scissors, L. E., Finkel, E. J., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2011). Language style matching predicts relationship initiation and stability. Psychological Science, 22, 39-44. [Download]

Johnson, S. E., Richeson, J. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). Middle class and marginal? The influence of socioeconomic status on the self-regulatory resources of students at an elite university. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 838-852 . [Download]

Luchies, L. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). The doormat effect: On the dangers of resolving conflict via unilateral forgiveness. In J. P. Forgas, A. W. Kruglanski, & K. D. Williams (Eds.), The psychology of social conflict and aggression (pp. 217-230). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Luchies, L. B., Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2011). The effects of self-regulatory strength, content, and strategies on close relationships. Journal of Personality, 79, 1251–1279. [Download]

Reis, H. T., Maniaci, M. R., Caprariello, P. A., Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-a). Familiarity does indeed lead to attraction in live interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 557-570 [Download]

Reis, H. T., Maniaci, M. R., Caprariello, P. A., Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-b). In live interaction, does familiarity promote attraction or contempt?: A reply to Norton. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 575-578. [Download]

Rick, S. I., Small, D. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). Fatal (fiscal) attraction: Spendthrifts and tightwads in marriage. Journal of Marketing Research.[Download]

Slotter, E. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). I3 Theory: Instigating, impelling, and inhibiting factors in aggression. In M. Mikulincer, & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Human aggression and violence: Causes, manifestations, and consequences (pp. 35-52). Washington: American Psychological Association. [Download]


2010

Baumeister, R. F., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Advanced social psychology: The state of the science. New York: Oxford University Press. [Oxford University Press] [Amazon.com]

Clark, M. S., Lemay, E. P., Graham, S. M., Pataki, S. P., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Ways of giving and receiving benefits in marriage: Norm use and attachment related variability. Psychological Science. [Download]

Dalton, A. N., Chartrand, T. L., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). The schema-driven chameleon: How mimicry affects executive and self-regulatory resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., Saigal, S. D., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Smooth Operating: A Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) perspective on initial romantic encounters. Social Psychological and Personality Science. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2010). In the pursuit of science. Personal relationships. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2010). Attraction and rejection. In R. F. Baumeister, and E. J. Finkel (Eds.), Advanced social psychology: The state of the science . New York: Oxford University Press. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Interpersonal influences on self-regulation. Current Directions in Psychological Science. [Download]

Hannon, P. A., Rusbult, C. E., Finkel, E. J., & Kumashiro, M. A. (2010). In the wake of betrayal: Perpetrator amends, victim forgiveness, and the resolution of betrayal incidents. Personal Relationships. [Download]

Luchies, L. B., Finkel, E. J., Kumashiro, M., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). The doormat effect: When forgiving erodes self-respect and self-concept clarity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. [Download]

Molden, D. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Motivations for promotion and prevention and the role of trust and commitment in interpersonal forgiveness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 255-268. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., Gardner, W. L., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Who am I without you? The influence of romantic breakup on the self-concept. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 147-160. [Download]


2009

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2009a). Infatuation. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relations (pp. 843-846). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2009b). Reciprocity of liking. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relations (pp. 1333-1336). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., Richeson, J. A., Son, D., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). Is love colorblind? Political orientation and interracial romantic desire. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 1258-1268. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., Buffardi, L. E., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. E. (2009). The metamorphosis of Narcissus: Communal activation promotes relationship commitment among narcissists. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 1271-1284. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Slotter, E. B., Oaten, M., & Foshee, V. A. (2009). Self-regulatory failure and intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 483-499. [Download]

 

Finkel, E. J., & Eastwick, P. W. (2009). Arbitrary social norms and sex differences in romantic selectivity. Psychological Science, 20, 1290-1295 . [Download] [Nature Coverage] [NY Times coverage]

Finkel, E. J., & Eastwick, P. W. (2009a). Hard-to-get phenomenon. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relations (pp. 788-790). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Eastwick, P. W. (2009b). Speed-dating. In H. T. Reis & S. Sprecher (Eds.), Encyclopedia of human relations (pp. 1587-1589). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Molden, D. C., Johnson, S. E., & Eastwick, P. W. (2009). Regulatory focus and romantic alternatives. In J. P. Forgas, R. F. Baumeister, and D. M. Tice (Eds.), Self-regulation: Cognitive, affective, and motivational processes (pp. 319-335) . New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Slotter, E. B. (2009). An I3 Theory analysis of human sex differences in aggression. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 32, 31. [Download]

Molden, D. C., Lucas, G. M., Finkel, E. J., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. E. (2009). Perceived support for promotion-focused and prevention-focused goals: Associations with well-being in unmarried and married couples. Psychological Science, 20, 787-793 . [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Finkel, E. J., & Kumashiro, M. (2009). The Michelangelo phenomenon. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 305-309. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., Kubacka, K. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). “The part of me that you bring out”: Ideal similarity and the Michelangelo phenomenon. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 61-82. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). The strange case of sustained dedication to an unfulfilling relationship: Predicting commitment and breakup from attachment anxiety and need fulfillment within relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 85-100. [Download]

 

2008

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008a). The attachment system in fledgling relationships: An activation role for attachment anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 628-647.[Download]

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008b). Sex differences in mate preferences revisited: Do people know what they initially desire in a romantic partner? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 245-264. [Download] [Nature coverage]

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008c). Speed-dating: A powerful and flexible paradigm for studying romantic relationship initiation. In S. Sprecher, A. Wenzel, & J. Harvey (Eds.), Handbook of relationship initiation (pp. 217-234). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., & Finkel, E. J. (2008d). Speed-dating as a methodological innovation. The Psychologist, 21, 402-403. [Download]

Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., Krishnamurti, T., & Loewenstein, G. (2008). Mispredicting distress following romantic breakup: Revealing the time course of the affective forecasting error. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 800-807. [Download] [Washington Post Coverage ] [Clip from NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me"]

Finkel, E. J. (2008). Intimate partner violence perpetration: Insights from the science of self-regulation. In J. P. Forgas, & J. Fitness (Eds.), Social relationships: Cognitive, affective, and motivational processes (pp. 271-288). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2008). Vengefully ever after? The Psychologist, 21, 104-107. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Eastwick, P. W. (2008). Speed-dating. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17, 193-197. [Download] [Chicago Tribune Magazine cover story]

Finkel, E. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2008). Prorelationship motivation: An interdependence theory analysis of situations with conflicting interests. In J. Y. Shah, & W. L. Gardner (Eds.), Handbook of motivation science (pp. 547-560). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Impett, E. A., Strachman, A., Finkel, E. J., & Gable, S. L. (2008). Maintaining Sexual Desire in Intimate Relationships: The Importance of Approach Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 808-823. [Download]

Kumashiro, M., Rusbult, C. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2008). Navigating personal and relational concerns: The quest for equilibrium. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 94-110. [Download]

 

2007

Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., Mochon, D., & Ariely, D. (2007). Selective versus unselective romantic desire: Not all reciprocity is created equal. Psychological Science, 18, 317-319. [Download] [NY Times coverage]

Finkel, E. J. (2007). Betrayal. In R. F. Baumeister, & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 113-115). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2007). Intimate partner violence. In R. F. Baumeister, & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of social psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 498-500). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2007). Impelling and inhibiting forces in the perpetration of intimate partner violence. Review of General Psychology, 11, 193-207. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Burnette, J. L., & Scissors, L. E. (2007). Vengefully ever after: Destiny beliefs, state attachment anxiety, and forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 871-886. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Eastwick, P. W., & Matthews, J. (2007). Speed-dating as an invaluable tool for studying romantic attraction: A methodological primer. Personal Relationships, 14, 149-166. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Slotter, E. B. (2007). An attachment theory perspective on the perpetration of intimate partner violence. DePaul Law Review, 56, 895-907. [Download]

 

2006

Campbell, W. K., Brunell, A. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2006). Narcissism, interpersonal self-regulation, and romantic relationships: An agency model approach. In K. D. Vohs, & E. J. Finkel (Eds.), Self and relationships: Connecting intrapersonal and interpersonal processes (pp. 57-83). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., & Brunell, A. B. (2006). High-maintenance interaction and self-regulation. In K. D. Vohs, & E. J. Finkel (Eds.), Self and relationships: Connecting intrapersonal and interpersonal processes (pp. 297-316). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., Brunell, A. B., Dalton, A. N., Chartrand, T. L., & Scarbeck, S. J. (2006). High-maintenance interaction: Inefficient social coordination impairs self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 456-475. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Vohs, K. D. (2006). Introduction: Intrapersonal processes, interpersonal relationships. In K. D. Vohs, & E. J. Finkel (Eds.), Self and relationships: Connecting intrapersonal and interpersonal processes (pp. 1-9). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Vohs, K. D., & Finkel, E. J. (2006). Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes. New York: Guilford Press. [Amazon.com] [Guilford Press]

 

2005

Clark, M. S., & Finkel, E. J. (2005). Willingness to express emotion: The impact of relationship type, communal orientation, and their interaction. Personal Relationships, 12, 169-180. [Download]

Neiss, M. B., Stevenson, J., Sedikides, C., Kumashiro, M., Finkel, E. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2005). Executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity: Relations at the phenotypic and genotypic level. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 593-606. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Hannon, P. A., Stocker, S. L., & Finkel, E. J. (2005). Forgiveness and relational repair. In E. L. Worthington, Jr. (Ed.), Handbook of forgiveness (pp. 185-205). New York: Brunner-Routledge. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., Stocker, S. L., Kirchner, J. L., Finkel, E. J., & Coolsen, M. K. (2005). Self processes in interdependent relationships: Partner affirmation and the Michelangelo phenomenon. Interaction Studies, 6, 375-391. [Download]

 

2004

Clark, M. S., & Finkel, E. J. (2004). Does expressing emotion promote well-being? It depends on relationship context. In L. Z. Tiedens & C. W. Leach (Eds.), The social life of emotions (105-126). New York: Cambridge University Press. [Download]

Exline, J. J., Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J., Campbell, W. K., & Finkel, E. J. (2004). Too proud to let go: Narcissistic entitlement as a barrier to forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 894-912. [Download]

 

2003

Flora, D. B., Finkel, E. J., & Foshee, V. A. (2003). Higher order factor structure of a self-control test: Evidence from a confirmatory factor analysis with polychoric correlations. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63, 112-127. [Download]

 

2002

Campbell, W. K., Foster, C. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2002). Does self-love lead to love for others?: A story of narcissistic game-playing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 340–354. [Download]

Finkel E. J., Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., & Hannon, P. A. (2002). Dealing with betrayal in close relationships: Does commitment promote forgiveness? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 956-974. [Download]

Kumashiro, M., Finkel, E. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2002). Self-respect and pro-relationship behavior in marital relationships. Journal of Personality, 70, 1009-1049. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., Finkel E. J., & Wildschut, T. (2002). The war of the Roses: An interdependence analysis of betrayal and forgiveness. In P. Noller & J. A. Feeney (Eds.), Understanding Marriage: Developments in the Study of Couple Interaction (pp. 251-281). New York: Cambridge University Press. [Download]

 

2001

Finkel, E. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2001). Self-control and accommodation in close relationships: An interdependence analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 263-277. [Download]

Insko, C. A., Schopler, J., Gaertner, L., Wildschut, T., Kozar, R., Pinter, B., Finkel, E. J., Brazil, D. M., Cecil, C. L., & Montoya, M. R. (2001). Interindividual-intergroup discontinuity reduction through the anticipation of future interaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 95-111. [Download]