Dr. phil. Jana Nikitin
Senior teaching and research associate
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Dr. phil. Jana Nikitin University of Zurich Department of Psychology Applied Psychology: Life Management Binzmuehlestrasse 14/11 8050 Zurich / Switzerland |
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Fax: E-Mail: Room: Office hours: |
++41 44 635 72 02
++41 44 635 72 09 nikitin@psychologie.uzh.ch BIN 3.A.22 by appointment |
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Central Research Interests
- Development of social motivation
- Motivational processes in transitions
- Approach and avoidance motivation
Brief Research Statement
My research aims at understanding social functioning across adulthood. A central question of this research is on how an approach-avoidance perspective contributes to the explanation of behavior and experience in different social situations at different ages. Using a multi-method approach, I test how social approach and avoidance motivation interplay in the prediction of (a) basic cognitive and behavioral processes, (b) complex experience and behavior in daily social situations, and (c) during important social transitions. A current research project addresses the question of which behavioral strategies are adaptive for which social goals in which age groups.
Selected Key Publications
| Nikitin, J., Burgermeister, L. C. & Freund, A. M. (2012). The role of age and social motivation in developmental transitions in young and old adulthood. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, 3:366. |
| Freund, & Nikitin, J. (2012). Entwicklung im jungen und mittleren Erwachsenenalter. In W. Schneider, & U. Lindenberger (Eds.), Entwicklungspsychologie (7. Auflage) (pp. 259-282). Weinheim, Basel: Beltz. |
| Freund, A. M., Riediger, M., & Nikitin, J. (2012). Successful aging. In R. M. Lerner, A. Easterbrooks, & J. Mistry (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychology: Volume 6: Developmental psychology (pp.615-638). New York, NY: Wiley. |
| Bowers, E. P., Gestsdottir, S., Geldhof, G. J., Nikitin, J., von Eye, A., & Lerner, R. M. (2011). Developmental trajectories of intentional self regulation in adolescence: The role of parenting and implications for positive and problematic outcomes among diverse youth. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 1193-1206. |
| Nikitin, J., & Freund, A. M. (2011). Age and motivation predict gaze behavior for facial epxressions. Psychology and Aging, 26, 695-700. |
| Nikitin, J., & Freund, A. M. (2010). A motivational perspective on reactions to emotional faces. In A. Freitas-Magalhaes (Ed.). Emotional expression: The brain and the face (Vol. 2, pp. 85-108). Oporto, Portugal: University Fernando Pessoa Press. |
| Nikitin, J., & Freund, A. M. (2010). When wanting and fearing go together: The effect of co-occurring social approach and avoidance motivation on behavior, affect, and cognition. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40, 783-804. |
| Freund, A. M., Nikitin, J., & Ritter, J. O. (2009). Psychological consequences of longevity: The increasing importance of self-regulation in old age. Human Development, 52, 1–37 |
| Nikitin, J., & Freund, A. M. (2008). The role of social approach and avoidance motives for subjective well-being and the successful transition to adulthood. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 57, 90–111. |
| Nikitin, J. (2008). When wanting and fearing go together: The interplay of social approach and avoidance motivation. Online-publizierte Dissertation, Universität Zürich. |
Complete list of publications by Jana Nikitin
Professional Positions
| Since 2011 | Faculty member of "The Life Course: Evolutionary and Ontogenetic Dynamics (LIFE)", a joint international PhD Program of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, the Freie Universität Berlin, the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the University of Michigan, the University of Virginia, and the University of Zurich |
| Since 2009 | Senior teaching and research associate (Oberassitenz) at the Department of Applied Psychology: Life Mangement, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland |
| 2008–2009 | Post-Doc at the Department of Applied Psychology: Life Management |
| 2008 | PhD |
| 2005–2008 | Doctoral student, advisor: Alexandra M. Freund, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland |
| 2004–2005 | Research assistant, project: «Flow experience in everyday life», PI: Prof. Urs Schallberger, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland |
| 2003 | Master degree in Psychology, Psychopathology of Infancy and Adolescence, and Criminology on the Institute of Philosophy, University of Zurich |
Awards and Grants
| 2012–2013 | Grant from Suzanne und Hans Biäsch Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Psychology for the project «Changes in the Adaptivity of Social Approach and Avoidance Behavior Across Adulthood» |
| 2010–2012 | Grant from Swiss National Foundation (SNF) for the project «Social Approach and Avoidance Motivation – The Role of Age» |
| 2009 | Annual Award of the University of Zurich for the doctoral thesis «When wanting and fearing go together: The interplay of social approach and avoidance motivation» |
| 2006–2008 | Grant from Suzanne und Hans Biäsch Foundation for the Promotion of Applied Psychology for the project «Motivational Determinants of Social Competence» |