Porträt

Dr. Katharina Bernecker

Prof. Dr. Katharina Bernecker

Leiterin Zentrum für Forschungsförderung

Institut für Forschung, Entwicklung und Evaluation

+41 31 309 22 13

+41 31 309 22 13
Fachinteressen
  • Persönliche und kontextuelle Determinanten hedonistischer Zielverfolgung
  • Affektive, kognitive und motivationale Prozesse erfolgreicher Selbstregulation
  • Motivationale Prozesse und Konfliktverhalten in romantischen Beziehungen
Aus- und Weiterbildung
  • 2011–2015 Dr. phil. in Psychologie, Universität Zürich, Titel: "Implicit Theories about Willpower and Their Consequences for Achievement, Health and Well-Being"
  • 2009–2011 M. Sc. Psychologie, Universität Erfurt
  • 2005–2008 B. A. Lehr-, Lern-, und Trainingspsychologie/Erziehungswissenschaften, Universität Erfurt
Beruflicher Werdegang
  • Seit 2024 Leiterin Zentrum für Forschungsförderung (ZFF), Instituts für Forschung, Entwicklung und Evaluation (IFE), PHBern
  • Seit 2019 Oberassistentin ad personam, Allgemeine Psychologie (Motivation), Universität Zürich
  • 2017–2019 Postdoktorandin, Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) Tübingen
  • 2015–2017 Postdoktorandin, Allgemeine Psychologie (Motivation), Universität Zürich
  • 2011–2015 Doktorandin SNF Ambizione, Universität Zürich
Kommissionen, Mandate und Mitgliedschaften
  • Member at large, Society of the Study of Motivation (SSM)
  • Mitglied Schweizer Gesellschaft für Psychologie (SGP)
  • Mitglied Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie, Fachgruppe Sozialpsychologie (DGPs)
  • 2020–2021 Organisatorin des 50. Motivationspsychologisches Kolloquium (MPK), Psychologisches Institut, Universität Zürich
  • 2018–2019 Sprecherin des SAW Postdoc-Network "Cognitive Conflicts in Digital Media Use" und Postdoktorand*innen am Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, Tübingen
Projekte ausserhalb der PHBern

09/2020 Forschungsprojekt, Schweizerischer Nationalfond (SNF), 10001C_197635, "How to eat your cake and enjoy it, too – Examining determinants of successful hedonic goal pursuit", PI: Dr. Katharina Bernecker

Seit 02/2023 Forschungskooperation mit Sucht- und Rehabilitationsklinik Salus-Klinik GmbH & Co. Hürth KG zur Rolle von Genussfähigkeit und deren Veränderung in der Therapie von Suchterkrankungen

Seit 01/2021 Forschungskooperation mit Sucht- und Rehabilitationsklinik im Wingert zur wissenschaftlichen Evaluation eines genussorientierten Therapieansatzes

Publikationen

Trait hedonic capacity correlates with sexual pleasure and motives for sexualized drug use in young adults

Bernecker, Katharina; Becker, Daniela; Weitkamp, Katharina; Wehrli, Fabienne (2024). Trait hedonic capacity correlates with sexual pleasure and motives for sexualized drug use in young adults. Current Psychology, 43 (27), S. 23278-23294. 10.1007/s12144-024-06017-1

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater: Indulging in harmless pleasures can support self-regulation and foster cooperation

Becker, Daniela; Bernecker, Katharina (2023). Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater: Indulging in harmless pleasures can support self-regulation and foster cooperation (Im Druck). Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 46. 10.1017/S0140525X23000456

Gamification of an n-back working memory task – Is it worth the effort? An EEG and eye-tracking study

Scharinger, Christian; Prislan, Laura; Bernecker, Katharina; Ninaus, Manuel (2023). Gamification of an n-back working memory task – Is it worth the effort? An EEG and eye-tracking study. Biological Psychology, 179, S. 108545. 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108545

If the party is good, you can stay longer—effects of trait hedonic capacity on hedonic quantity and performance

Bernecker, Katharina; Becker, Daniela; Guobyte, Aiste (2023). If the party is good, you can stay longer—effects of trait hedonic capacity on hedonic quantity and performance. Motivation and Emotion, 47 (5), S. 711-725. 10.1007/s11031-023-10021-6

Regulate me! Self-control dissatisfaction in meat reduction success relates to stronger support for behavior-regulating policy

Kukowski, Charlotte A.; Bernecker, Katharina; Nielsen, Kristian S.; Hofmann, Wilhelm; Brandstätter, Veronika (2023). Regulate me! Self-control dissatisfaction in meat reduction success relates to stronger support for behavior-regulating policy. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 85, S. 101922. 10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101922

The Role of Hedonic Goal Pursuit in Self-Control and Self-Regulation: Is Pleasure the Problem or Part of the Solution?

Becker, Daniela; Bernecker, Katharina (2023). The Role of Hedonic Goal Pursuit in Self-Control and Self-Regulation: Is Pleasure the Problem or Part of the Solution? Affective Science, 4 (3), S. 470-474. 10.1007/s42761-023-00193-2

Which factors shape public climate policy support? A social-motivational perspective

Kukowski, Charlotte A.; Bernecker, Katharina (2023). Which factors shape public climate policy support? A social-motivational perspective. In: Reese, Gerhard; Römpke, Anne-Kristin; Bernd, Asja; Dolderer, Christoph; Mues, Andreas W. (Hg.) The Puzzle of Transformation. Impulses from Environmental Psychological Research. BfN-Schriften: Vol. 658 (S. 51-60). Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz

Climate policy support as a tool to control others’ (but not own) environmental behavior?

Kukowski, Charlotte A.; Bernecker, Katharina; von der Heyde, Leoni; Boos, Margarete; Brandstätter, Veronika; Zogmaister, Cristina (2022). Climate policy support as a tool to control others’ (but not own) environmental behavior? PLOS ONE, 17 (6), e0269030. 10.1371/journal.pone.0269030

The Relation of Attitude Toward Technology and Mastery Experience After an App-Guided Physical Exercise Intervention: Randomized Crossover Trial

Sassenberg, Kai; Roesel, Inka; Sudeck, Gorden; Bernecker, Katharina; Durst, Jennifer; Krauss, Inga (2022). The Relation of Attitude Toward Technology and Mastery Experience After an App-Guided Physical Exercise Intervention: Randomized Crossover Trial. JMIR Formative Research, 6 (2), e28913. 10.2196/28913

Beyond self-control: Mechanisms of hedonic goal pursuit and its relevance for well-being

Bernecker, Katharina; Becker, Daniela (2021). Beyond self-control: Mechanisms of hedonic goal pursuit and its relevance for well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 47 (4), S. 627-642. 10.1177/0146167220941998

Facial and Bodily Expressions of Emotional Engagement: How Dynamic Measures Reflect the Use of Game Elements and Subjective Experience of Emotions and Effort

Greipl, Simon; Bernecker, Katharina; Ninaus, Manuel (2021). Facial and Bodily Expressions of Emotional Engagement: How Dynamic Measures Reflect the Use of Game Elements and Subjective Experience of Emotions and Effort. Proceedings of the ACM Human-Computer Interaction, 5. 10.1145/3474667

No Pain, no Gain? Investigating motivational mechanisms of game elements in cognitive tasks

Bernecker, Katharina; Ninaus, Manuel (2021). No Pain, no Gain? Investigating motivational mechanisms of game elements in cognitive tasks. Computers in Human Behaviour, 114.

Self-Control and Beliefs Surrounding Others’ Cooperation Predict Own Health-Protective Behaviors and Support for COVID-19 Government Regulations: Evidence From Two European Countries

Kukowski, Charlotte; Bernecker, Katharina; Brandstätter, Veronika (2021). Self-Control and Beliefs Surrounding Others’ Cooperation Predict Own Health-Protective Behaviors and Support for COVID-19 Government Regulations: Evidence From Two European Countries. Social Psychological Bulletin, 16 (1), e4391.

Implicit theories about willpower are associated with exercise levels during the academic examination period

Bernecker, Katharina; Kramer, Jule (2020). Implicit theories about willpower are associated with exercise levels during the academic examination period. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9 (2), S. 216-231. 10.1037/spy0000182

Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika (2020). Too exhausted to go to bed: Implicit theories about willpower and stress predict bedtime procrastination. British Journal of Psychology, 111 (1), S. 126-147. 10.1111/bjop.12382

“Take care, honey!”: People are more anxious about their significant others' risk behavior than about their own

Ghassemi, Mirjam; Bernecker, Katharina; Brandstätter, Veronika (2020). “Take care, honey!”: People are more anxious about their significant others' risk behavior than about their own. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 86, S. 103879. 10.1016/j.jesp.2019.103879

Approach and avoidance relationship goals and couples’ nonverbal communication during conflict

Bernecker, Katharina; Ghassemi, Mirjam; Brandstätter, Veronika (2019). Approach and avoidance relationship goals and couples’ nonverbal communication during conflict. European Journal of Social Psychology, 49 (3), S. 622-636. 10.1002/ejsp.2379

Autonomous goal striving promotes a nonlimited theory about willpower

Sieber, Vanda; Flückiger, Lavinia; Mata, Jutta; Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika (2019). Autonomous goal striving promotes a nonlimited theory about willpower. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45 (8), S. 1295-1307. 10.1177/014616721882092

Temporal dynamics of couples’ communication behaviors in conflict discussions: A longitudinal analysis

Leuchtmann, Lorena; Milek, Anne; Bernecker, Katharina; Nussbeck, Fridtjof W.; Backes, Sabine; Martin, Mike; Zemp, Martina; Brandstätter, Veronika; Bodenmann, Guy (2019). Temporal dynamics of couples’ communication behaviors in conflict discussions: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36 (9), S. 2937-2960. 10.1177/0265407518806582

Tweeted anger predicts county-level results of the 2016 United States presidential election

Bernecker, Katharina; Wenzler, Michael; Sassenberg, Kai (2019). Tweeted anger predicts county-level results of the 2016 United States presidential election. International Review of Social Psychology, 32 (1), S. 6. 10.5334/irsp.256

Experience, resistance, and enactment of desires: Differential relationships with trait measures predicting self-control

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika; Hofmann, Wilhelm (2018). Experience, resistance, and enactment of desires: Differential relationships with trait measures predicting self-control. Journal of Research in Personality, 76, S. 92-101. 10.1016/j.jrp.2018.07.007

Temporal dynamics of couples’ communication behaviors in conflict discussions: A longitudinal analysis

Leuchtmann, Lorena; Milek, Anne; Bernecker, Katharina; Nussbeck, Fridtjof W.; Backes, Sabine; Martin, Mike; Zemp, Martina; Brandstätter, Veronika; Bodenmann, Guy (2018). Temporal dynamics of couples’ communication behaviors in conflict discussions: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36 (9), S. 2937-2960. 10.1177/0265407518806582

Implicit theories about willpower and their implications for health and well-being

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika (2017). Implicit theories about willpower and their implications for health and well-being. In: de Ridder, Denise; Adriaanse, Marieke; Fujita, Kentaro (Hg.) Routledge International Handbook of Self-Control in Health and Well-Being. Routledge 10.4324/9781315648576

Implicit theories about willpower predict subjective well‐being

Bernecker, Katharina; Herrmann, Marcel; Brandstätter, Veronika; Job, Veronika (2017). Implicit theories about willpower predict subjective well‐being. Journal of personality, 85 (2), S. 136-150. 10.1111/jopy.12225

The process of disengagement from personal goals: Reciprocal influences between the experience of action crisis and appraisals of goal desirability and attainability

Ghassemi, Mirjam; Bernecker, Katharina; Herrmann, Marcel; Brandstätter, Veronika (2017). The process of disengagement from personal goals: Reciprocal influences between the experience of action crisis and appraisals of goal desirability and attainability. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43 (4), S. 524-537. 10.1177/0146167216689052

Implicit theories about willpower and their consequences for achievement, health, and well-being

Bernecker, Katharina (2016). Implicit theories about willpower and their consequences for achievement, health, and well-being. (Dissertationsschrift, Universität Zürich, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)

Monitoring Pronouns in Conflicts: Temporal dynamics of verbal communication in couples across the lifespan

Neysari, Mona; Bodenmann, Guy; Mehl, Matthias R.; Bernecker, Katharina; Nussbeck, Fridtjof W.; Backes, Sabine; Zemp, Martina; Martin, Mike; Horn, Andrea B. (2016). Monitoring Pronouns in Conflicts: Temporal dynamics of verbal communication in couples across the lifespan. GeroPsych, 29 (4), S. 201-213. 10.1024/1662-9647/a000158

Avoidance orientation and the escalation of negative communication in intimate relationships

Kuster, Monika; Bernecker, Katharina; Backes, Sabine; Brandstätter, Veronika; Nussbeck, Fridtjof W.; Bradbury, Thomas N.; Martin, Mike; Sutter-Stickel, Dorothee; Bodenmann, Guy (2015). Avoidance orientation and the escalation of negative communication in intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109 (2), S. 262-275. 10.1037/pspi0000025

Avoidance orientation and the escalation of negative communication in intimate relationships

Kuster, M.; Bernecker, K.; Backes, S.; Brandstätter, V.; Nussbeck, F.W.; Bradbury, T.N.; Martin, M.; Sutter-Stickel, D.; Bodenmann, G. (2015). Avoidance orientation and the escalation of negative communication in intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Beliefs about willpower are related to therapy adherence and psychological adjustment in patients with type 2 diabetes

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika (2015). Beliefs about willpower are related to therapy adherence and psychological adjustment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Basic an Applied Social Psychology, 37 (3), S. 188-195. 10.1080/01973533.2015.1049348

Beliefs about willpower moderate the effect of previous day demands on next day’s expectations and effective goal striving

Bernecker, Katharina; Job, Veronika (2015). Beliefs about willpower moderate the effect of previous day demands on next day’s expectations and effective goal striving. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, S. 1496. 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01496

Effects of practicing self-control on academic performance

Job, Veronika; Friese, Malte; Bernecker, Katharina (2015). Effects of practicing self-control on academic performance. Motivation Science, 1 (4), S. 219-232.

Implicit theories about willpower predict self-regulation and grades in everyday life.

Job, Veronika; Walton, Gregory M.; Bernecker, Katharina; Dweck, Carol S. (2015). Implicit theories about willpower predict self-regulation and grades in everyday life. Journal of personality and social psychology, 108 (4), S. 637-647. 10.1037/pspp0000014

Implicit theories about willpower predict the activation of a rest goal following self-control exertion

Job, Veronika; Bernecker, Katharina; Miketta, Stefanie; Friese, Malte (2015). Implicit theories about willpower predict the activation of a rest goal following self-control exertion. Journal of personality and social psychology, 109 (4), S. 694-706. 10.1037/pspp0000042

Beliefs about willpower determine the impact of glucose on self-control

Job, Veronika; Walton, Gregory M.; Bernecker, Katharina; Dweck, Carol S. (2013). Beliefs about willpower determine the impact of glucose on self-control. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110 (37), S. 14837-14842. 10.1073/pnas.1313475110

Are implicit motives the need to feel certain affect? Motive–affect congruence predicts relationship satisfaction

Job, Veronika; Bernecker, Katharina; Dweck, Carol S. (2012). Are implicit motives the need to feel certain affect? Motive–affect congruence predicts relationship satisfaction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38 (12), S. 1552-1565. 10.1177/0146167212454920

Referate
  • "Hedonic Goal Pursuit and Its Relevance in Everyday Life", Keynote auf der Abschlussveranstaltung CAS Positive Psychologie 2023, Universität Zürich
  • "Die menschliche Natur: Einblicke in die Motivationspsychologie", Swisscom Security Conference 2021
  • "How Can We Get People To Do Things They Don’t Enjoy Doing?", Swiss Security Awareness Day 2020
  • "Trait Hedonic Capacity – Examining Mechanisms and Consequences", University of Geneva, September 2020; University of Reading, September 2020
  • "Auszubildende Motivieren", Gastvortrag für Young Talents Zurich, Credit Suisse AG, Mai 2019