• PhD, University of Michigan

My research focuses broadly on questions pertaining to the self, motivation, well-being, and relationships. Using cross-sectional, experimental, and daily diary methods, I investigate: (a) how the pursuit of self-esteem via contingencies of self-worth – the desire to protect, maintain, and enhance self-esteem in various domains – undermines motivation, well-being, and relationships; (b) how concerns about belonging – due to being sensitive to rejection or a member of a marginalized group produce negative outcomes, which can be alleviated through interventions; and (c) how people’s lay theories of happiness shape their goal pursuits and well-being.

Funding from the National Science Foundation has supported our work examining how features of the social environment – such as different types of instructor feedback – shape self-perceptions, motivation, and performance among students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Overall, my research advances knowledge and understanding of how people’s experience of themselves affects motivation, well-being, and relationships, and identifies interventions to improve important societal outcomes, such as broadening participation in STEM.

• Park, L. E., Ward, D. E., Naragon-Gainey, K., Canning, E. A., Koefler, N., Panlilio, Z., Vessels, V., & Pascuzzi, G. (in press). Perceptions of safety and threat in the environment: The STEP scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
• Park, L. E., Ward, D. E., Moore-Russo, D., Rickard, B., Vessels, V., & Hundley, J. (in press). Positive feedback as a lever to boost students’ STEM outcomes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 
• Park, L. E., Aknin, L. B., Gaither, S. E., Impett, E. A., & Whillans, A. V. (2024). Starting and sustaining fruitful collaborations in psychology. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 18(4), 1-16.
• Park, L. E., Ward, D. E., Naragon-Gainey, K., Fujita, K., & Koefler, N. (2024). I’m still spending: Financial contingency of self-worth predicts financial motivational conflict and compulsive buying. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 50(2), 2232-252. 
• Park, L. E., Naidu, E., Lemay, E. P., Canning, E. A., Ward, D. E., Panlilio, Z. A., & Vessels, V. (2023). Social evaluative threat across individual, relational, and collective selves. In B. Gawronski (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol.68, pp.139-199). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press. 
• Park, L. E., Fujita, K., Naragon-Gainey, K., Radsvick, T., Jung, H., Xia, J., Ward, D. E., Paravati, E., Weng, J., Italiano, A., & Valvo, A., (2023). Happiness – to enjoy now or later? Consequences of delaying happiness and living in the moment beliefs. Emotion, 23(1), 138-162.
• Park, L. E., Lin, G-X., Chang, Y., O'Brien, C., & Ward, D. E. (2022). Burning the candle at both ends: The role of financial contingency of self-worth and work-family conflict on job and parental well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 199, 1-6.
• Ward, D. E.,  Park, L. E., Naragon-Gainey, K., Whillans, A. V., & Jung, H. (2020). Can’t buy me love (or friendship). Social consequences of financially contingent self-worth. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46, 1665-1681.
• Park, L. E., Kondrak, C., Ward, D. E., & Streamer, L. (2018). Positive feedback from male authority figures boosts women's math outcomes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44, 359-383.
• Park, L. E., Ward, D. E., & Naragon-Gainey, K. (2017).  It’s all about the money (for some): Consequences of financially contingent self-worth.  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43, 601-622.
• Park, L. E., Young, A. F., Troisi, J. D., & Pinkus, R. T. (2011). Effects of everyday romantic goal pursuit on women’s attitudes toward math and science. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37, 1259-1273.
• Park, L. E. (2010). Responses to self-threat: Linking self and relational constructs with approach and avoidance motivation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 4, 201-221.
• Park, L. E., & Maner, J. K. (2009). Does self-threat promote social connection? The role of self-esteem and contingencies of self-worth. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 203-217.
• Park, L. E. (2007). Appearance-based rejection sensitivity: Implications for mental and physical health, affect, and motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 490-504.
• Crocker, J., & Park, L. E. (2004). The costly pursuit of self-esteem. Psychological Bulletin, 130, 392–414.