Dr. Erin Westgate, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Social Psychology, researching boredom, interest, and thinking (and why we're so bad at it)

Research Expertise

social psychology
social cognition
emotion
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Toxicology
Health (social science)
Sociology and Political Science
Linguistics and Language
Language and Linguistics
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Neuroscience
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Education
Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
Applied Psychology
Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

About

**Dr. Erin Westgate** (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida, where she studies boredom, interest, and why some thoughts are more engaging than others. ​She received her PhD in social psychology from the University of Virginia in 2018, and her undergraduate degree from Reed College. Much of her research has been on the conditions under which people enjoy or do not enjoy their own thoughts. She has extended that work to the larger question of why people become bored, developing a new model of boredom that explains what boredom is, why we experience it, and what happens when we do.  As part of this, she is investigating our desire for a life full of interesting, perspective-changing experiences - or a “psychologically rich” life.

Publications

Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science

Science / Aug 28, 2015

(2015). Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science. Science, 349(6251). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac4716

Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind

Science / Jul 04, 2014

Wilson, T. D., Reinhard, D. A., Westgate, E. C., Gilbert, D. T., Ellerbeck, N., Hahn, C., Brown, C. L., & Shaked, A. (2014). Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind. Science, 345(6192), 75–77. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250830

Boring thoughts and bored minds: The MAC model of boredom and cognitive engagement.

Psychological Review / Oct 01, 2018

Westgate, E. C., & Wilson, T. D. (2018). Boring thoughts and bored minds: The MAC model of boredom and cognitive engagement. Psychological Review, 125(5), 689–713. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000097

I drink therefore I am: Validating alcohol-related implicit association tests.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors / Mar 01, 2013

Lindgren, K. P., Neighbors, C., Teachman, B. A., Wiers, R. W., Westgate, E., & Greenwald, A. G. (2013). I drink therefore I am: Validating alcohol-related implicit association tests. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027640

Understanding The Consumer Behaviour During COVID-19 Pandemic

Jan 01, 2021

Gülmez, M. (Ed.). (2021). Understanding The Consumer Behaviour During COVID-19 Pandemic. https://doi.org/10.37609/akya.1670

LF-copying without LF

Lingua / Oct 01, 2015

Kobele, G. M. (2015). LF-copying without LF. Lingua, 166, 236–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2014.08.006

Correction to Supporting Information for Psychological Science Accelerator Self-Determination Theory Collaboration, A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences / Aug 30, 2022

Correction to Supporting Information for Psychological Science Accelerator Self-Determination Theory Collaboration, A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2022). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(36). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213828119

Observers penalize decision makers whose risk preferences are unaffected by loss–gain framing.

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General / Sep 01, 2022

Dorison, C. A., & Heller, B. H. (2022). Observers penalize decision makers whose risk preferences are unaffected by loss–gain framing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 151(9), 2043–2059. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001187

Pandemic boredom: Little evidence that lockdown-related boredom affects risky public health behaviors across 116 countries

May 11, 2021

Westgate, E. C., Buttrick, N., Lin, Y., El Helou, G., Agostini, M., Belanger, J., Gutzkow, B., Kreienkamp, J., Abakoumkin, G., Khaiyom, J. H. B. A., Ahmedi, V., Akkas, H., Almenara, C. A., Atta, M., B, S. C., Basel, S., Kida, E. B., BERNARDO, A. B. I., Chobthamkit, P., … Damnjanović, K. (2021). Pandemic boredom: Little evidence that lockdown-related boredom affects risky public health behaviors across 116 countries. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/78kma

The Origins of Boredom

Mar 19, 2021

Lin, Y., & Westgate, E. C. (2021). The Origins of Boredom. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/bz6n8

Art, Music, and Literature: Do the Humanities Make Our Lives Richer, Happier, and More Meaningful?

The Oxford Handbook of the Positive Humanities / Jan 13, 2022

Westgate, E. C., & Oishi, S. (2022). Art, Music, and Literature: Do the Humanities Make Our Lives Richer, Happier, and More Meaningful? The Oxford Handbook of the Positive Humanities, 84–96. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190064570.013.1

Stereotype Threat in Black College Students Across Many Operationalizations

Jul 17, 2019

Forscher, P. S., Taylor, V. J., Cavagnaro, D., Lewis, N. A., Buchanan, E. M., Moshontz, H., Mark, A. Y., Appleby, S., Batres, C., Bennett-Day, B., Chopik, W. J., Damian, R. I., Ellis, C. E., Faas, C., Gaither, S., Green, D. J.-A., Hall, B. F., Hinojosa, B. M., Howell, J. L., … Chartier, C. R. (2019). Stereotype Threat in Black College Students Across Many Operationalizations. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/6hju9

I enjoy hurting my classmates: On the relation of boredom and sadism in schools

Journal of School Psychology / Feb 01, 2023

Pfattheicher, S., Lazarević, L. B., Nielsen, Y. A., Westgate, E. C., Krstić, K., & Schindler, S. (2023). I enjoy hurting my classmates: On the relation of boredom and sadism in schools. Journal of School Psychology, 96, 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2022.10.008

19. FEAR OF UNFULFILLED DESIRES

Happiness and Goodness / Jan 31, 2015

19. FEAR OF UNFULFILLED DESIRES. (2015). Happiness and Goodness. https://doi.org/10.7312/cahn17240-020

PSACR: The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 Rapid-Response Project

Apr 16, 2020

Forscher, P. S., Paris, B., Primbs, M., & Coles, N. A. (2020). PSACR: The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 Rapid-Response Project. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/x976j

Are We Bored Yet? A Lifespan Perspective on the MAC Model of Boredom and Cognitive Engagement

Apr 11, 2019

Westgate, E. C. (2019). Are We Bored Yet? A Lifespan Perspective on the MAC Model of Boredom and Cognitive Engagement. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/4h6et

From electric shocks to the electoral college: How boredom steers moral behavior

Feb 03, 2021

Yucel, M., & Westgate, E. C. (2021). From electric shocks to the electoral college: How boredom steers moral behavior. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/frcw9

What to do with our days Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom James Danckert and John D. Eastwood Harvard University Press, 2020. 288 pp.

Science / Jun 19, 2020

Westgate, E. (2020). What to do with our days Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Boredom James Danckert and John D. Eastwood Harvard University Press, 2020. 288 pp. Science, 368(6497), 1321–1321. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc1024

By Choice or By Chance? Intentional Reverie is Real but Rare

Apr 26, 2018

Westgate, E. C. (2018). By Choice or By Chance? Intentional Reverie is Real but Rare. https://doi.org/10.31237/osf.io/vk6rm

Alcohol Does Not Increase Slow Wave Sleep

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research / Feb 10, 2012

Pressman, M. R. (2012). Alcohol Does Not Increase Slow Wave Sleep. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 36(8), 1474–1474. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01746.x

A Rocky Issue: The Effects of Humor on Learning and Interest in an Educational Context

Apr 26, 2018

Westgate, E. C. (2018). A Rocky Issue: The Effects of Humor on Learning and Interest in an Educational Context. https://doi.org/10.31237/osf.io/c9rez

Reading Literary Fiction Is Associated With a More Complex Worldview

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin / Jul 07, 2022

Buttrick, N., Westgate, E. C., & Oishi, S. (2022). Reading Literary Fiction Is Associated With a More Complex Worldview. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49(9), 1408–1420. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672221106059

A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Social and Personality Psychology Compass / Aug 28, 2023

Lin, Y., LePine, S. E., Krause, A. N., & Westgate, E. C. (2023). A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12871

A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aug 02, 2023

Lin, Y., LePine, S., Krause, A. N., & Westgate, E. C. (2023). A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8gh6v

Pandemic boredom: Little evidence that lockdown-related boredom affects risky public health behaviors across 116 countries.

Emotion / Mar 13, 2023

Westgate, E. C., Buttrick, N. R., Lin, Y., El Helou, G., Agostini, M., Bélanger, J. J., Gützkow, B., Kreienkamp, J., Abakoumkin, G., Abdul Khaiyom, J. H., Ahmedi, V., Akkas, H., Almenara, C. A., Atta, M., Bagci, S. C., Basel, S., Berisha Kida, E., Bernardo, A. B. I., Chobthamkit, P., … et al. (2023). Pandemic boredom: Little evidence that lockdown-related boredom affects risky public health behaviors across 116 countries. Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001118

Cognitive mechanisms underlying subjective value of past and future events: Modeling systematic reversals of temporal value asymmetry.

Decision / Jan 01, 2023

Kvam, P. D., Baldwin, M., & Westgate, E. C. (2023). Cognitive mechanisms underlying subjective value of past and future events: Modeling systematic reversals of temporal value asymmetry. Decision, 10(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1037/dec0000181

What Underlies the Opposition to Trans-Inclusive Policies? The Role of Concerns About Male Violence Versus Attitudes Toward Trans People

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin / Dec 13, 2022

Morgenroth, T., Axt, J. R., & Westgate, E. C. (2022). What Underlies the Opposition to Trans-Inclusive Policies? The Role of Concerns About Male Violence Versus Attitudes Toward Trans People. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 014616722211372. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672221137201

A psychologically rich life: Beyond happiness and meaning.

Psychological Review / Jul 01, 2022

Oishi, S., & Westgate, E. C. (2022). A psychologically rich life: Beyond happiness and meaning. Psychological Review, 129(4), 790–811. https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000317

A trade-off model of intentional thinking for pleasure.

Emotion / Feb 01, 2022

Raza, S., Westgate, E. C., Buttrick, N. R., Heintzelman, S. J., Furrer, R. A., Gilbert, D. T., Libby, L. K., & Wilson, T. D. (2022). A trade-off model of intentional thinking for pleasure. Emotion, 22(1), 115–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001029

On the relation of boredom and sadistic aggression.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology / Sep 01, 2021

Pfattheicher, S., Lazarević, L. B., Westgate, E. C., & Schindler, S. (2021). On the relation of boredom and sadistic aggression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 121(3), 573–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000335

What makes thinking for pleasure pleasurable?

Emotion / Aug 01, 2021

Westgate, E. C., Wilson, T. D., Buttrick, N. R., Furrer, R. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2021). What makes thinking for pleasure pleasurable? Emotion, 21(5), 981–989. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000941

I enjoy hurting my classmates: On the relation of boredom and sadism in schools

Apr 19, 2021

Pfattheicher, S., Lazarevic, L., Nielsen, Y. A., Westgate, E. C., Krstic, K., & Schindler, S. (2021). I enjoy hurting my classmates: On the relation of boredom and sadism in schools. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/37ru9

What Makes Thinking for Pleasure Pleasurable?

Oct 01, 2020

Westgate, E. C., Wilson, T. D., Buttrick, N., & Furrer, R. (2020). What Makes Thinking for Pleasure Pleasurable? https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/2emk9

Lost by definition: Why boredom matters for psychology and society

Social and Personality Psychology Compass / Oct 24, 2020

Westgate, E. C., & Steidle, B. (2020). Lost by definition: Why boredom matters for psychology and society. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 14(11). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12562

Implicit Transgender Attitudes Independently Predict Beliefs About Gender and Transgender People

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin / Jul 01, 2020

Axt, J. R., Conway, M. A., Westgate, E. C., & Buttrick, N. R. (2020). Implicit Transgender Attitudes Independently Predict Beliefs About Gender and Transgender People. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 47(2), 257–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167220921065

Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness

Affective Science / Jun 01, 2020

Oishi, S., Choi, H., Koo, M., Galinha, I., Ishii, K., Komiya, A., Luhmann, M., Scollon, C., Shin, J., Lee, H., Suh, E. M., Vittersø, J., Heintzelman, S. J., Kushlev, K., Westgate, E. C., Buttrick, N., Tucker, J., Ebersole, C. R., Axt, J., … Besser, L. L. (2020). Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness. Affective Science, 1(2), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-020-00011-z

Art, music, and literature: Do the humanities make our lives richer, happier, and more meaningful?

Apr 25, 2020

Westgate, E. C. (2020). Art, music, and literature: Do the humanities make our lives richer, happier, and more meaningful? https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/gsnzm

Why Boredom Is Interesting

Current Directions in Psychological Science / Nov 08, 2019

Westgate, E. C. (2019). Why Boredom Is Interesting. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419884309

The psychologically rich life questionnaire

Journal of Research in Personality / Aug 01, 2019

Oishi, S., Choi, H., Buttrick, N., Heintzelman, S. J., Kushlev, K., Westgate, E. C., Tucker, J., Ebersole, C. R., Axt, J., Gilbert, E., Ng, B. W., & Besser, L. L. (2019). The psychologically rich life questionnaire. Journal of Research in Personality, 81, 257–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2019.06.010

The mind is its own place: The difficulties and benefits of thinking for pleasure

Advances in Experimental Social Psychology / Jan 01, 2019

Wilson, T. D., Westgate, E. C., Buttrick, N. R., & Gilbert, D. T. (2019). The mind is its own place: The difficulties and benefits of thinking for pleasure. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 175–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aesp.2019.05.001

You can do it if you really try: The effects of motivation on thinking for pleasure

Motivation and Emotion / Jul 26, 2017

Alahmadi, S., Buttrick, N. R., Gilbert, D. T., Hardin, A. M., Westgate, E. C., & Wilson, T. D. (2017). You can do it if you really try: The effects of motivation on thinking for pleasure. Motivation and Emotion, 41(5), 545–561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-017-9625-7

With a little help for our thoughts: Making it easier to think for pleasure.

Emotion / Aug 01, 2017

Westgate, E. C., Wilson, T. D., & Gilbert, D. T. (2017). With a little help for our thoughts: Making it easier to think for pleasure. Emotion, 17(5), 828–839. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000278

Productive procrastination: academic procrastination style predicts academic and alcohol outcomes

Journal of Applied Social Psychology / Nov 21, 2016

Westgate, E. C., Wormington, S. V., Oleson, K. C., & Lindgren, K. P. (2016). Productive procrastination: academic procrastination style predicts academic and alcohol outcomes. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 47(3), 124–135. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12417

Can a Naturally Occurring Pathogen Threat Change Social Attitudes? Evaluations of Gay Men and Lesbians During the 2014 Ebola Epidemic

Social Psychological and Personality Science / Mar 22, 2016

Inbar, Y., Westgate, E. C., Pizarro, D. A., & Nosek, B. A. (2016). Can a Naturally Occurring Pathogen Threat Change Social Attitudes? Evaluations of Gay Men and Lesbians During the 2014 Ebola Epidemic. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7(5), 420–427. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616639651

Identity, influence, and intervention: The roles of social media in alcohol use

Current Opinion in Psychology / Jun 01, 2016

Westgate, E. C., & Holliday, J. (2016). Identity, influence, and intervention: The roles of social media in alcohol use. Current Opinion in Psychology, 9, 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.10.014

Attempted Training of Alcohol Approach and Drinking Identity Associations in US Undergraduate Drinkers: Null Results from Two Studies

PLOS ONE / Aug 04, 2015

Lindgren, K. P., Wiers, R. W., Teachman, B. A., Gasser, M. L., Westgate, E. C., Cousijn, J., Enkema, M. C., & Neighbors, C. (2015). Attempted Training of Alcohol Approach and Drinking Identity Associations in US Undergraduate Drinkers: Null Results from Two Studies. PLOS ONE, 10(8), e0134642. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134642

Implicit Preferences for Straight People over Lesbian Women and Gay Men Weakened from 2006 to 2013

Collabra / Jan 01, 2015

Westgate, E. C., Riskind, R. G., & Nosek, B. A. (2015). Implicit Preferences for Straight People over Lesbian Women and Gay Men Weakened from 2006 to 2013. Collabra, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.18

Would you fund this movie? A reply to Fox et al. (2014)

Frontiers in Psychology / Dec 09, 2014

Wilson, T. D., Gilbert, D. T., Reinhard, D. A., Westgate, E. C., & Brown, C. L. (2014). Would you fund this movie? A reply to Fox et al. (2014). Frontiers in Psychology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01428

“I Will Take a Shot for Every ‘Like’ I Get on This Status”: Posting Alcohol-Related Facebook Content Is Linked to Drinking Outcomes

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs / May 01, 2014

Westgate, E. C., Neighbors, C., Heppner, H., Jahn, S., & Lindgren, K. P. (2014). “I Will Take a Shot for Every ‘Like’ I Get on This Status”: Posting Alcohol-Related Facebook Content Is Linked to Drinking Outcomes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 75(3), 390–398. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2014.75.390

Self-Control and Implicit Drinking Identity as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption, Problems, and Cravings

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs / Mar 01, 2014

Lindgren, K. P., Neighbors, C., Westgate, E., & Salemink, E. (2014). Self-Control and Implicit Drinking Identity as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption, Problems, and Cravings. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 75(2), 290–298. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2014.75.290

Implicit drinking identity: Drinker+me associations predict college student drinking consistently

Addictive Behaviors / May 01, 2013

Lindgren, K. P., Foster, D. W., Westgate, E. C., & Neighbors, C. (2013). Implicit drinking identity: Drinker+me associations predict college student drinking consistently. Addictive Behaviors, 38(5), 2163–2166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.01.026

Pick your poison: Stimuli selection in alcohol-related implicit measures

Addictive Behaviors / Aug 01, 2012

Lindgren, K. P., Westgate, E. C., Kilmer, J. R., Kaysen, D., & Teachman, B. A. (2012). Pick your poison: Stimuli selection in alcohol-related implicit measures. Addictive Behaviors, 37(8), 990–993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.03.024

Implicit transgender attitudes independently predict beliefs about gender and transgender people

Apr 03, 2020

Axt, J., Conway, M. A., Westgate, E. C., & Buttrick, N. (2020). Implicit transgender attitudes independently predict beliefs about gender and transgender people. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/wjts3

Education

University of Virginia

Ph.D., Psychology

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

Reed College

B.A., Psychology / May, 2010

Portland, Oregon, United States of America

Experience

University of Florida

Assistant Professor / 2019Present

The Ohio State University

Postdoctoral Researcher / 20182019

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