Lehrstuhlinhaberin
Prof. Dr. Olga Stavrova (sie/ihr)
Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaften
A 5, 6
A5,6 – Raum A 433
68159 Mannheim
Olga Stavrova erhielt 2012 ihren Doktortitel an der Universität zu Köln (Deutschland). Bevor sie an die Universität Mannheim wechselte, arbeitete sie als Associate Professor am Fachbereich Sozialpsychologie der Universität Tilburg (Niederlande) und als Professorin für Psychische Gesundheit an der Universität zu Lübeck.
Olga untersucht psychologisches Wohlbefinden und Gesundheit, Zynismus und Vertrauen sowie soziale Beziehungen. Sie verwendet eine Vielzahl methodischer Ansätze, darunter Online- und Laborexperimente, länderübergreifende Umfragen, longitudinale sowie experience sampling und daily diary Designs, dyadische und Sprachanalysen sowie Big Data.
Olgas Arbeit wurde mit dem Rising Star Award der Association for Psychological Science ausgezeichnet und findet in zahlreichen Medien Beachtung, unter anderem in Artikeln der Harvard Business Review, der Times, der Huffington Post und weiteren.
Publikationen
Spiridonova, T., van Beest, I., & Stavrova, O. (2025). Does protection come at a cost? A random stimuli approach to investigating the (side-)effects of misinformation inoculations. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Spiridonova, T., Leib, M., van Beest, I., & Stavrova, O. (2025). Do cynics lie to avoid exploitation, to exploit others, or not at all? A registered report on the relationship between cynicism and dishonesty. Registered Report (Stage 2). European Journal of Personality.
Tran, C., Ivanova, K., Reitz, A. K., & Stavrova, O. (2025). Changes in Psychological Well-being Across the Transition to Motherhood: Combining Longitudinal and Experience Sampling Methods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Stavrova, O., Kleinberg, B., Evans, A. M., & Ivanović, M. (2025). Scientific publications that use promotional language in the abstract receive more citations and public attention. Communications Psychology, 10.1038/s44271-025-00293-8.
Stavrova, O., Ren, D., & Evans, A. M. (2025). Turning the Camera Off in Virtual Interactions Can Harm the Reputation. European Journal of Social Psychology.
Puklavec, Ž., Stavrova, O., Kogler, C., & Zeelenberg, M. (2024). Exploring the Morality of Tax Morale. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology.
Stavrova, O., Kleinberg, B., Evans, A. M., & Ivanović, M. (2024). Expressions of uncertainty in online science communication hinder information diffusion. PNAS Nexus, 439.
Kokkoris, M. D., & Stavrova, O. (2024). In control but uninspired: Displays of artist self‐control undermine perceptions of creativity. European Journal of Social Psychology.
Büttner, C. M., Ren, D., Stavrova, O., Rudert, S. C., Williams, K. D., & Greifeneder, R. (2024). Ostracism in everyday life: A framework of threat and behavioral responses in real life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Tran, C., Ivanova, K., Reitz, A. K., & Stavrova, O. (2024). Transition to Parenthood: The Association Between Expectations and Family-Life Satisfaction. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 19485506241260570.
Spiridonova, T., Leib, M., van Beest, I., & Stavrova, O. (2024). Do cynics lie to avoid exploitation, to exploit others, or not at all? A registered report on the relationship between cynicism and dishonesty. Registered Report (Stage 1). European Journal of Personality.
Puklavec, Ž., Stavrova, O., Kogler, C., & Zeelenberg, M. (2024). Diffusion of Tax-Related Communication on Social Media. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 102203.
Stavrova, O. & Chopik, W. (2023). Don’t drag me down: Valence asymmetry in well-being co-development in couples. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Klein, N. & Stavrova, O. (2023). Respondents with more extreme views show moderation of opinions in multi-year surveys in the USA and the Netherlands. Communications Psychology.
Stavrova, O., Ehlebracht, D., & Ren, D., (2023). Cynical people desire power but rarely acquire it: Exploring the role of cynicism in leadership attainment. British Journal of Psychology.
Baumann, J., Danilov, A., & Stavrova, O. (2023). Self-control and performance while working from home. PLOS ONE, 18(4), e0282862.
Puklavec, Ž. , Kogler, C., Stavrova, O., & Zeelenberg, M. (2023). What we tweet about when we tweet about taxes: A topic modelling approach. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 212, 1242-1254.
Ren, D., & Stavrova, O. (2023). Does a pandemic context attenuate people's negative perception and meta-perception of solitude? International Journal of Psychology, 58(2), 134–142.
Ren, D., Stavrova, O., & Evans, A. M. (2023). Does dispositional preference for solitude predict better psychological outcomes during times of social distancing? Beliefs and reality. Journal of Personality.
Spiridonova, T. , Stavrova, O., Evans, A. M., & van Beest, I. (2023). Cynical, but useful? A lay beliefs perspective on cynical leaders’ ability to prevent antisocial behavior at work. Social Psychology.
Stavrova, O., & Ren, D. (2023). Alone in a Crowd: Is Social Contact Associated with Less Psychological Pain of Loneliness in Everyday Life? Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(5), 1841-1860.
Stavrova, O., +Spiridonova, T. , van de Calseyde, P., Meyers, C., & Evans, A. M. (2023). Does remote work erode trust in organizations? A within-person investigation in the COVID-19 context. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 17(7), e12762.
Stavrova, O., Pronk, T., Denissen, J. (2022). Estranged and unhappy? Examining the dynamics of personal and relationship well-being surrounding infidelity. Psychological Science.
Ren, D., Stavrova, O., & Wei Loh, W. (2022). Nonlinear effect of social interaction quantity on psychological well-being: Diminishing Returns or Inverted U? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Kim, S., Stavrova, O., Vohs, K. (2022). Do Voting and Election Outcomes Predict Changes in Conspiracy Beliefs? Evidence from Two High-Profile U.S. Elections. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Stavrova, O., Evans, A.M., van Beest, I. (2022). The effects of partner extraversion and agreeableness on trust. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Stavrova, O., Evans, A.M., Sleegers, W., van Beest, I. (2022). Examining the accuracy of lay beliefs about the effects of personality on prosocial behavior. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making.
Stavrova, O., Reitz, A.K., Evans, A.M. (2022). Temporal dynamics of interpersonal trust during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Research in Personality.
Machneva, M., Evans, A. M., & Stavrova, O. (2022). Consensus and (lack of) accuracy in perceptions of avatar trustworthiness. Computers in Human Behavior, 126.
Evans, A.M., Meyers, C., van de Calseyde, P., & Stavrova, O. (2021). Extraversion and Conscientiousness Predict Deteriorating Job Outcomes During the COVID-19 Transition to Enforced Remote Work. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Evans, A. M., Stavrova, O., Rosenbusch, H., & Brandt, M. J. (2021). Expressions of Doubt in Online News Discussions. Social Science Computer Review, 08944393211034163.
Kokkoris, M. D., & Stavrova, O. (2021). Meaning of food and consumer eating behaviors. Food Quality and Preference, 94, 104343.
Stavrova, O., Ren, D., & Pronk, T. (2021). Low self-control: a hidden cause of loneliness? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Stavrova, O., Evans, A.M., & Brandt, M.J. (2021). Ecological dimensions explain the past but do not predict future changes in trust. American Psychologist.
Van de Grint, L.T.M., Evans, A.M., & Stavrova, O. (2021). Good eats, bad intentions? Reputational costs of organic consumption. Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Stavrova, O. & Ren, D. (2020). Is more always better? Examining the nonlinear association of social contact frequency with physical health and longevity. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Kokkoris, M., & Stavrova, O. (2020). Staying on track in turbulent times: Trait self-control and goal pursuit during self-quarantine. Personality and Individual Differences, 170.
Stavrova, O. & Denissen, J. (2020). Does using social media jeopardize well-being? The importance of separating within- from between-person effects. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Stavrova, O., Ehlebracht, D., & Vohs, K. D. (2020). Victims, perpetrators, or both? The vicious cycle of disrespect and cynical beliefs about human nature. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
Stavrova, O. & Haarmann, L. (2020). How to tell a happy person: Accuracy of subjective well-being perception from texts. Motivation & Emotion, 44, 597–607.
Evans, A.M., Stavrova, O., & Rosenbusch, H. (2020). Expressions of doubt and trust in online user reviews. Computers in Human Behavior.
Stavrova, O., Pronk, T. M., & Kokkoris, M. D. (2020). Finding meaning in self-control: The effect of self-control on the perception of meaning in life. Self & Identity, 19, 201–218.
Stavrova, O. (2019). Having a happy spouse is associated with lower risk of mortality. Psychological Science, 30(5), 798–803.
Stavrova, O., Pronk, T., & Kokkoris, M. D. (2019). Choosing goals that express the true self: A novel mechanism of the effect of self-control on goal attainment. European Journal of Social Psychology, 49, 1329-1336.
This paper was selected as „Editor’s choice“ in Science: Rai, T.S. (2019). Self-control and authentic goals. Science, 363(6426). DOI: 10.1126/science.363.6426.495-e
Rose, D., & Stavrova, O. (2019). Does life satisfaction predict reemployment? Evidence from German panel data. Journal of Economic Psychology, 72, 1–11.
Stavrova, O. (2019). How much do sources of happiness vary across countries? A review of the empirical literature. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, 71, 429–464.
Stavrova, O., & Ehlebracht, D. (2019). Broken bodies, broken spirits: How poor health contributes to a cynical worldview. European Journal of Personality, 33(1), 52–71.
Stavrova, O., & Ehlebracht, D. (2019). The cynical genius illusion: Exploring and debunking lay beliefs about cynicism and competence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(2), 254–269.
This paper received the highest Altmetric score of all PSPB papers.
Burgmer, P., Forstmann, M., & Stavrova, O. (2019). Ideas are cheap: When and why adults value labor over ideas. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 148(5), 824–844.
Stavrova, O. & Evans, A. M. (2019). Examining the trade-off between confidence and optimism in future forecasts. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 32(1), 3–14.
Stavrova, O., & Kokkoris., M. D. (2019). Struggling to be liked: The prospective effect of trait self-control on social desirability and the moderating role of agreeableness. International Journal of Psychology, 54(2), 232–236.
Stavrova, O. (2019). Social perception of forecasters: People see forecasts of future outcomes as cues to forecasters’ desires, attitudes, and identity. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 10(6), 802–810.
Ehlebracht, D., Stavrova, O., Fetchenhauer, D., & Farrelly, D. (2018). The synergistic effect of prosociality and physical attractiveness on mate desirability. British Journal of Psychology, 109(3), 517–537.
Stavrova, O., & Ehlebracht, D. (2018). Education as an antidote to cynicism: A longitudinal investigation. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 9(1), 59–69.
Stavrova, O., & +Meckel., A. (2017). Perceiving emotion in non-social targets: The effect of trait empathy on emotional contagion through art. Motivation and Emotion, 41(4), 492–509.
Rothmund, T., Stavrova, O. & Schlösser, T. (2017). Justice concerns can feed nationalistic concerns and impede solidarity in the euro crisis – How victim sensitivity translates into political attitudes. Social Justice Research, 30(1), 48–71.
Stavrova, O., & +Meckel, A. (2017). The role of magical thinking in forecasting the future. British Journal of Psychology, 108(1), 148–168.
Stavrova, O., & Ehlebracht, D. (2016). Cynical beliefs about human nature and income: Longitudinal and cross-cultural analyses. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110(1), 116–132.
Stavrova, O., Newman, G., +Kulemann, A., & Fetchenhauer, D. (2016). Contamination without contact: An examination of intention-based contagion. Judgment and decision making, 11(6), 554–571.
Stavrova, O., Köneke, V. & Schlösser, T. (2016). Overfulfilling the norm: The better-than-average effect in judgments of attitudes. Social Psychology, 47, 288–293.
Stavrova, O. & Luhmann, M. (2016). Are conservatives happier than liberals? Not always and not everywhere. Journal of Research in Personality, 63, 29–35.
Stavrova, O., Ehlebracht, D. & Fetchenhauer, D. (2016). Belief in scientific-technological progress and life satisfaction: the role of personal control. Personality and Individual Differences, 96, 227–236.
Stavrova, O., & Luhmann, M. (2016). Social connectedness as a source and consequence of meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 470–479.
Stavrova, O. (2015). How regional personality affects individuals' life satisfaction: A case of emotional contagion? Journal of Research in Personality, 58, 1–5.
Stavrova, O. (2015). Religion, self-rated health and mortality: Whether religiosity delays death depends on the cultural context. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(8), 911–922.
Stavrova, O., & Ehlebracht, D. (2015). A longitudinal analysis of romantic relationship formation: The effect of prosocial behavior. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6(5), 521–527.
Stavrova, O., & Fetchenhauer, D. (2015). Married and cohabiting parents’ well-being: The effects of a cultural normative context across countries. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32(5), 601–632.
Stavrova, O., & Schlösser, T. (2015). Solidarity and social justice: Effect of individual differences in justice sensitivity on solidarity behavior. European Journal of Personality, 29(1), 2–16.
Oarga, C., Stavrova, O., & Fetchenhauer, D. (2015). When and why is helping others good for well-being? The role of belief in reciprocity and conformity to society’s expectations. European Journal of Social Psychology, 45(2), 242–254.
Stavrova, O., & Fetchenhauer, D. (2015). Single parents, unhappy parents? Parenthood, partnership and the cultural normative context. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(1), 134–149.
Stavrova, O., & Siegers, P. (2014). Religious prosociality and morality across cultures: How social enforcement of religion shapes the effects of personal religiosity on prosocial and moral attitudes and behaviors. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(3), 315–333.
Stavrova, O., Schlösser, T., & Baumert, A. (2014). Life satisfaction and job search behavior of the unemployed: the effect of individual differences in justice sensitivity. Applied psychology: An international review, 63(4), 643–670.
Stavrova, O., Schlösser, T. & Fetchenhauer, D. (2013). Are virtuous people happy all around the world? Civic virtue, antisocial punishment, and subjective well-being across cultures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(7), 927–942.
Stavrova, O., Fetchenhauer, D., & Schlösser, T. (2013). Why are religious people happy? The effect of the social norm of religiosity across countries. Social Science Research, 42(1), 90–105.
Stavrova, O., Fetchenhauer, D., & Schlösser, T. (2012). Cohabitation, gender, and happiness: A cross-cultural study in 30 countries. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 43(7), 1063 – 1081.
Stavrova, O., Schlösser, T., & Fetchenhauer, D. (2011). Are the unemployed equally unhappy all around the world? The role of the social norms to work and welfare state provision in 28 OECD countries. Journal of Economic Psychology, 32(1), 159–171.
Stavrova, O., & Urhahne, D. (2010). Modification of a School Programme in the Deutsches Museum to Enhance Students’ Attitudes and Understanding. International Journal of Science Education, 32(17), 2291 – 2310.
Book
Stavrova, O. (2014). Fitting In and Getting Happy. How Conformity to Societal Norms Affects Subjective Well-being. Frankfurt/
New York: Campus. Book chapters
Stavrova, O., & Asbach, S. (2019). Economic prosperity and happiness. In E. Kirchler & K. Gangl (Eds.), A research agenda for Economic Psychology. Cheltenham, UK – Northhampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing
Stavrova, O. (2018). Single Parenthood. In M. H. Bornstein, M. E. Arterberry, K. L. Fingerman & J. E. Lansford (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.