Carsten Wrosch, PhD

Education

PhD (Free University of Berlin)

Research interests

Our research indentifies pathways to successful living across the adult lifespan. We examine from a self-regulation perspective how people can adjust to challenging life circumstances and prevent the adverse consequences on their psychological, biological, and physical health (e.g., depression, cortisol dysregulation, or chronic disease). This research program integrates theories from personality, developmental, and health psychology, and is based on the premise that there are reliable individual differences in people’s personality processes that determine the quality of life of individuals who confront problematic life situations.

Wrosch, C., Jobin, J., & Scheier, M. F. (2017). Do the emotional benefits of optimism vary across older adulthood? A life span perspective. Journal of Personality, 85, 388-397. 

Wrosch, C., Amir, E., & Miller, G. E. (2011). Goal adjustment capacities, coping, and subjective well-being: The sample case of caregiving for a family member with mental illness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 934-946.

Heckhausen, J., Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2010). A motivational theory of life-span development. Psychological Review, 117, 32-60.

Wrosch, C., & Miller, G. E. (2009). Depressive symptoms can be useful: Self-regulatory and emotional benefits of dysphoric mood in adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 1181-1190.

Wrosch, C., & Schulz, R. (2008). Health engagement control strategies and 2-year changes in older adults' physical health. Psychological Science, 19, 537-541.

Wrosch, C., Bauer, I., Miller, G. E., & Lupien, S. (2007). Regret intensity, diurnal cortisol secretion, and physical health in older individuals: Evidence for directional effects and protective factors. Psychology and Aging, 22, 319-330.