Igor Grossmann

Prediplom (BA equivalent, Freiburg, Germany), MS, PhD (University of Michigan)

Contact information

View my profile on academia.edu, Google scholar, or ResearchGate

Wisdom and Culture lab website

Research interests

My research interests revolve around two issues. My main scientific goal is to understand the processes that enable individuals to think and act "wisely," for instance by using cognitive strategies that facilitate the resolution of social conflicts or by regulating emotions that undermine their goals and compromise their health. My second goal is to understand how culture shapes cognition and emotion and how culture evolves, given the mutual constitution of culture and the mind. In order to approach both of these issues, my work targets meaningful real world situations at the intersection of affect and cognition, ranging from daily hassles, to career choices, to romantic and societal conflicts, integrating these processes in a broad socio-cultural context.

Selected publications

• Grossmann, I., Gerlach, T. M., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2016). Wise reasoning in the face of everyday life challenges. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7(7), 611–622. doi: 10.1177/1948550616652206 (2.56)
• Grossmann, I., Huynh, A.C., & Ellsworth, P. C. (2016). Emotional complexity: Clarifying definitions and cultural correlates. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111(6), 895-916. doi: 10.1037/pspp0000084
• Grossmann, I., Sahdra, B. & Ciarocci, J. (2016). A heart and a mind: Self-distancing facilitates the association between heart rate variability, and wise reasoning. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 10(68). doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00068
• Grossmann, I., & Varnum, M. E. W. (2015). Social structure, infectious diseases, disasters, secularism, and cultural change in America. Psychological Science, 26(3) 311-324. doi: 10.1177/0956797614563765
• Grossmann, I., & Kross, E. (2014). Exploring “Solomon’s paradox”: Self-distancing eliminates the self-other asymmetry in wise reasoning about close relations in younger and older adults. Psychological Science, 25(8), 1571-1580. doi: 10.1177/0956797614535400
• Grossmann, I., Na, J., Varnum, M. E. W., Kitayama, S., & Nisbett, R. E. (2013). A route to well-being: Intelligence vs. wise reasoning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 142(3), 944-953. doi: 10.1037/a0029560
• Grossmann, I., Karasawa, M., Kan, C. & Kitayama, S. (2014). A cultural perspective on emotional experiences across the lifespan. Emotion, 14(4), 679-692. 
• Grossmann, I., & Na, J. (2014). Research in culture and psychology: past lessons and future challenges. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 5(1), 1-14. 
• Grossmann, I., Ross, M., & Schryer, E. (2014). Contrary to Psychological and Popular Opinion, There is No Compelling Evidence that Older Adults are Disproportionately Victimized by Consumer Fraud. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(4), 427-442. 
• Grossmann, I., & Kross, E. (2014). Exploring “Solomon’s paradox”: Self-distancing eliminates the self-other asymmetry in wise reasoning about close relations in younger and older adults. Psychological Science, 25(8), 1571-1580. 
• Grossmann, I., Na, J., Varnum, M. E. W., Kitayama, S., & Nisbett, R. E. (2013). A Route to Well-being: Intelligence vs. Wise Reasoning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 142(3), 944-953.
• Grossmann, I., Karasawa, M., Izumi, S., Na, J., Varnum, M. E. W., Kitayama, S., & Nisbett, R. E. (2012). Aging and wisdom: Culture matters. Psychological Science. doi: 10.1177/0956797612446025. 
• Grossmann, I., & Kross, E. (2012). Boosting Wisdom: Distance From the Self Enhances Wise Reasoning, Attitudes, and Behavior. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(1), 43-48.7 
• Grossmann, I., Ellsworth, P. C., & Hong, Y.-y. (2012). Culture, Attention, and Emotion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(1), 31-36. 
• Grossmann, I.,& Varnum, M. E. W. (2011). Culture, social class, and cognition. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2(1), 81-89. 
• Grossmann, I., & Kross, E. (2010). The impact of culture on adaptive vs. maladaptive self-reflection. Psychological Science, 21(8), 1150-1157. 
• Grossmann, I., Na, J., Varnum, M. E.W., Park, D. C., Kitayama, S. & Nisbett, R.E. (2010). Reasoning about Social Conflicts Improves into Old Age. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(16), 7246-7250.
• Grossmann, I., Varnum, M.E.W., Kitayama, S., & Nisbett, R.E. (2010) .The origin of cultural differences in cognition: Evidence for the social orientation hypothesis. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(1), 9-13.