tanjamgerlach@googlemail.com
I am a social-personality psychologists whose research program cuts across the psychology of interpersonal relationships, personality psychology, psychological assessment/psychometrics, and human development.
Research Interests
- Personality and social relationships, with a focus on defensive personality traits (narcissism, justice sensitivity)
- Mate choice and the role of partner preferences and romantic social networks
- Neuroendocrinology, in particular psychological effects of progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, and cortisol
- Contextual approaches to psychological processes, interpersonal relationships, and relationship development
- Intra- and interpersonal aspects of forgiveness (and revenge) in close interpersonal relationships
- Emotional competencies and emotion regulation
- Online research (psytests.de, formr.org) and Open Science
Current Projects
- Predictive validity and change of romantic partner ideals
- Opposite-sex social networks - assessment and implications for partner choice and relationship quality
- Ovulatory cycle shifts and psychological effects of hormonal contraception
- Narcissistic admiration and rivalry and their relations to anger experience, regulation, and expression as well as relational negotiation
- Effects of narcissistic admiration and rivalry in romantic relationships and friendships
- Effects of self-distancing and wise reasoning in close interpersonal relationships
- Personality predictors of advice seeking, taking, and giving in interpersonal relationships
Publications
- Jünger, J., Kordsmeyer, T., Gerlach, T. M., & Penke, L. (2018). Fertile women evaluate male bodies as more attractive, regardless of masculinity. Preprint on PsyArXiv. DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/NYBA6
- Arslan, R. C., Schilling, K. M., Gerlach, T. M., & Penke, L. (2017). Using 26 thousand diary entries to show ovulatory changes in sexual desire and behaviour. Preprint on PsyArXiv. DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/JP2YM
- Schultze, T., Gerlach, T. M., & Rittich, J. C. (in press). Some people heed advice less than others: agency (but not communion) predicts advice taking. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making. ↠ PDF
- Gerlach, T. M., Arslan, R. C., Schultze, T., Reinhard, S.K., & Penke, L. (in press). Predictive validity and adjustment of ideal partner preferences across the transition into romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ↠ PDF ↠ Supplement
- Leckelt, M., Wetzel, E., Gerlach, T. M., Ackerman, R.A., Miller, J. D., Chopik, W. J., Penke, L., Geukes, K., Küfner, C.P., Hutteman, R., Richter, R., Renner, K. H., Allroggen, M., Brecheen, C., Campbell, W. K., Grossmann, I., & Back, M. D. (2017). Validation of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire short scale (NARQ-S) in convenience and representative samples. Psychological Assessment. Advance online publication. ↠ PDF
- Wurst, S. N., Gerlach, T. M., Dufner, M., Rauthmann, J. F., Grosz, M. P., Küfner, A. C. P., Denissen, J. J. A., & Back, M. D. (2017). Narcissism and romantic relationships: The differential impact of narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112, 280-306. ↠ PDF
- Wetzel, E., Leckelt, M., Gerlach, T.M., & Back, M.D. (2016). Distinguishing subgroups of narcissists with latent class analysis. European Journal of Personality, 30, 374-389. ↠ PDF
- 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, 611-622. ↠ PDF
- Fatfouta, R., Gerlach, T.M., Schröder-Abé, M., & Merkl, A. (2015). Narcissism and lack of interpersonal forgiveness: the mediating role of state anger, state rumination, and state empathy. Personality and Individual Differences, 75, 36-40.
- Back, M. D., Küfner, A. C. P., Dufner, M., Gerlach, T. M., Rauthmann, J. F., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2013). Narcissistic admiration and rivalry: Disentangling the bright and dark sides of narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105, 1013-1037. ↠ PDF
- Gerlach, T. M., Allemand, M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012). Justice sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The mediating role of mistrustful, legitimizing, and pro-relationship cognitions. Journal of Personality, 85, 1373-1413. ↠ PDF
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012). Forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: A negotiation approach. In E. Kals & J. Maes (Eds.), Justice and conflicts: Theoretical and empirical contributions (pp. 377-390). Berlin: Springer.
Congress Contributions (Selection)
- Gerlach, T. M., Arslan, R. C., Schultze, T., Reinhard, S.K., & Penke, L. (2017, June). Predictive validity and adjustment of ideal partner preferences across the transition into romantic relationships. In T. M. Gerlach & S. Wurst (Chairs), Personality and romantic relationships: The early days. 5. Meeting of the Association of Research in Personality, Sacramento (CA), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Arslan, R. C., Hannappel, T., Hecker, E. M., Marske, A., & Penke, L. (2016, September). „Eine wie sie habe ich mir immer gewünscht…“ – Prädiktive Validität und Stabilität von Partnerpräferenzen beim Übergang in romantische Beziehungen. ["I always wanted someone like her..." - Predictive validity and stability upon the transition into romantic relationships.] In T. M. Gerlach & K. Rentzsch (Chairs), Partnerwahl und Partnerschaft: Mechanismen der Initiierung und Stabilisierung von romantischen Beziehungen. [Mate choice and romantic relationships: mechanisms of initiation and stabilization in romantic relationships.] 50. Congress of the German Psychological Association (DGPs) in Leipzig.
- Jünger, J., Arslan, R.C., Schilling, K., Gerlach, T.M., & Penke, L. (2016, September). Cycle effects on women´s sexual motivation and behavior: a large pre-registered study. 50. Congress of the German Psychological Association (DGPs) in Leipzig.
- Funk, F., Gerlach, T.M., Walker, M., & Prentice, T. (2016, September). Beyond retribution: Wronged people have transformative justice motives toward transgressors. 50. Congress of the German Psychological Association (DGPs) in Leipzig.
- Rittich, J. C., Gerlach, T.M., &Schultze, T. (2016, September). Why resistance to advice is a matter of personality: Agency and communion as predictors of advice taking. 50. Congress of the German Psychological Association (DGPs) in Leipzig.
- Gerlach, T. M., Arslan, R. C., Hannappel, T., Hecker, E. M., Marske, A., &Penke, L. (2016, July). „I always wanted someone like her…“ – Predictive validity and stability of ideal partner preferences across the transition into romantic relationships. 18. European Conference on Personality in Timisoara, Romania.
- Gerlach, T.M., Rittich, J.C., & Schultze, T. (2015, November). Some people are more resistant to advice than others: agency and communion as predictors of advice taking. Tagung der Society for Judgment and Decision Making (SJDM 2015) in Chicago (IL), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Marske, A., Arslan, R. C., Hannapel, T., Hecker, E. M., & Penke, L. (2015, September). Wer kommt für mich in Frage? Ein frischer Blick auf gegengeschlechtliche romantische Netzwerke von Frauen. [Who´s the one for me? A new look at women´s opposite-sex social networks.] In S. Wurst & T. M. Gerlach (Chairs), Personality and romantic relationships: New insights from research on dating and romantic relationships]. 13. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Mainz.
- Gerlach, T. M., Schmidt, M., Weigand, M., Kelava, A., Küfner, A. C. P., Hutteman, R., & Back, M. D. (2014, February). A more differentiated look at narcissistic anger experience, regulation, and expression: Disentangling the effects of admiration and rivalry. 15. Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) in Austin (TX), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2013, May). Wie defensiv sind Opfersensible? Ungerechtigkeitssensibilität aus der Opferperspektive und Verhalten nach Verletzungen in engen interpersonalen Beziehungen [How defensive are victim sensitives? Justice sensitivity from a victim's perspective and behaviour following transgressions in close interpersonal relationships]. 12. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Greifswald, Germany.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2013, May). Beyond revenge: How justice sensitive individuals (try to) overcome close relationship transgressions. 25. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) in Washington, D.C., USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2013, January). In the wake of transgressions: What do victim-sensitive individuals do? 14. Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) in New Orleans (LA), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012, October). In the wake of transgressions: What do victim-sensitive individuals do? LIFE Fall Academy 2012 in Wintergreen (VA), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012, September). Verzeihen und 'defensive' Persönlichkeitseigenschaften: Wie Ungerechtigkeitssensible interpersonale Verletzungen (versuchen zu) überwinden [Forgiveness and 'defensive' personality traits: How justice sensitive individuals (try to) overcome interpersonal transgressions]. 48. Congress of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs) in Bielefeld, Germany.
- Gerlach, T. M., Agroskin, D., Allemand, M., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012, July). Forgiveness and 'defensive' personality traits: The case of justice sensitivity. 16. European Congress on Personality in Trieste, Italy.
- Gerlach, T. M., Allemand, M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012, May). Justice sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The mediating role of mistrustful, legitimizing, and pro-relationship cognitions. 24. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science (APS) in Chicago (IL), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Allemand, M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012, January). Justice sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The mediating role of mistrustful, legitimizing, and pro-relationship cognitions. 13. Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) in San Diego (CA), USA.
- Dufner, M., Denissen, J. J. A., Penke, L., Gerlach, T. M., Back, M. D., & Sedikides, C. (2011, September). Was macht Selbstaufwerter sexy? Eine Untersuchung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Selbstaufwertung und Mate Appeal [What makes Self-Enhancers sexy? An investigation of the relation between self-enhancement and mate appeal]. 11. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Gerlach, T. M. & Denissen, J. J. A. (2011, September). How to forgive your 'better' half: A negotiation approach to partner forgiving. Partnership Relations in Context Conference 2011 in Munich, Germany
- Dufner, M., Denissen, J. J. A., Gerlach, T. M., Penke, L., & Sedikides, C. (2011, July). What is it that makes a narcissist sexy? Zeroing in on the link between narcissism and mate-appeal. Conference of the European Association for Social Psychology (EASP) in Stockholm, Schweden.
- Gerlach, T. M., Allemand, M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2011, May). Justice sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The mediating role of mistrustful, legitimizing, and reconciliatory cognitions. LIFE Spring Academy 2011 in Ann Arbor (MI), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M. (2011, May). Forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: A negotiation approach. MPIB Research Colloquium 2011, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.
- Gerlach, T. M., Allemand, M., Agroskin, D., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2010, September). Verzeihen und Ungerechtigkeitssensibilität in interpersonalen Beziehungen: Die Rolle misstrauischer Interpretation versöhnlichen Täter-Verhaltens und legitimierender Kognitionen [Forgiveness and justice sensitivity and in close interpersonal relationships: The role of mistrustful interpretation of partner's reconciliatory behavior and legitimizing cognitions]. 47. Congress of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs) in Bremen, Germany.
- Dufner, M., Denissen, J. J. A., Penke, L., Gerlach, T. M., & Sedikides, C. (2010, July). What is it that makes a narcissist sexy: Zeroing in on the link between narcissism and mate appeal. BPS British Social Psychology Conference in Winchester, UK.
- Maes, J., Rößler-Nance, F., Schuster, J., & Gerlach, T. M. (2010, August). Proneness to guilt: Preconditions and effects. 13. Biennal Conference of the International Society for Justice Research in Banff, Canada.
- Agroskin, D., Gerlach, T. M., & Maes, J. (2009, October). Justice sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The role of mistrustful interpretation of partner's reconciliatory behaviour. Symposium 'The potential of justice research for conflict resolution and the understanding of societal problems' in Eichstätt, Germany.
- Gerlach, T. M. & Denissen, J. J. A. (2009, October). Not the same for everyone: Narcissism and the perception of partner transgressions in couple relationships. LIFE Fall Academy 2009 in Ann Arbor (MI), USA.
- Gerlach, T. M., Eigen, J., Flohr, J., Leischner, A., Quansah, C., & Maes, J. (2009, September). Narzissten als Opfer partnerschaftlicher Verletzungen [Narcissists as victims of partner transgressions]. 10. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Landau, Germany.
- Haumann, Ch., Ade, F., Gerlach, T. M., Schuster, J., & Maes, J. (2009, September). Entwicklung und Validierung eines Skalen-Inventars zum Narzissmus (SIN). 10. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Landau, Germany.
- Agroskin, D., Gerlach, T. M., & Maes, J. (2009, September). Opfersensibilität und Vergebungsbereitschaft in engen interpersonalen Beziehungen: Die Rolle misstrauischer Interpretation versöhnlichen Partnerverhaltens [Victim sensitivity and forgiveness in close interpersonal relationships: The role of mistrustful interpretation of partner's reconciliatory behavior]. 10. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Landau, Germany.
- Rößler-Nance, F., Gerlach, T. M., Schuster, J., & Maes, J. (2009, September). Schuldneigungen: Voraussetzungen und Folgen [Proneness to guilt: Preconditions and effects]. 10. Fachgruppentagung Differentielle Psychologie, Persönlichkeitspsychologie und Psychologische Diagnostik (DPPD) in Landau, Germany.
- Maes, J., Haumann, Ch., Ade, F., Gerlach, T. M., & Schuster, J. (2009, September). Development and validation of the Scale Inventory for Narcissism (SIN). 11. Congress of the Schweizer Gesellschaft für Psychologie in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
- Schuster, J., Wade, D. Gerlach, T. M., Müller, F., & Maes, J. (2009, September). Gerechtigkeitsempfinden, Verhalten in Organisationen und Wohlbefinden [Sense of justice, organizational behaviour, and well-being]. 6. Fachgruppentagung Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie in Vienna, Austria.
- Gerlach, T. M. & Denissen, J. J. A. (2009, May). Forgiveness processes in couples across the lifespan. LIFE Spring Academy in Zurich, Switzerland.
- Maes, J., Tarnai, C., & Gerlach, T. M. (2008, August). The Janus-faced justice motive: Consequences of BJW for self and others. 12. Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research ISJR 2008 in Adelaide, Australia.
- Wade, D., Maes, J., Gerlach, T. M., Schuster, J., & Müller, F. (2008, July). The sense of justice, organizational behaviour, and well-being. 29. International Congress of Psychology (ICP) in Berlin, Germany.
- Schmidt, M., Schmitz, B., & Gerlach, T. M. (2007, September). Förderung selbstregulativer Kompetenzen von Nachwuchswissenschaftler/innen [Fostering young scientists' self-regulative competencies]. 11. Fachgruppentagung Pädagogische Psychologie in Berlin, Germany.
Media Coverage
Work by me and my colleagues has been featured in the media. Here is a selection, ordered by topic:On mate choice
- Psychology Today: Finding a partner you love and loving the partner you find
- ZEIT Campus: Beat the Prof - Partnerwahl (German)
- Pallabis World: Finding a Partner & Your Love
- Health and Fitness: Finding a Partner You Love
- Motto Cosmos: Is a relationship a selection or a compromise?
On narcissism and romantic relationships
- Psychology Today: The Two Faces of Narcissism in Romantic Relationships
- Psychologie Heute: Narzisstische Liebe (German)
- Daily Articles: Romantic Relationships
On narcissism, its conceptualization and measurement
- Report Psychologie: Zwei Gesichter der Narzissten (German)
- WWU Münster: Die zwei Gesichter des Narzissten (German)
On teaching reasearch in personality psychology
- Göttinger Tageblatt: Preis für engagierte Hochschullehre (German)
- HNA: Uni-Stiftung vergab Preise an herausragende Lehrende und Forscher (German)
- Uni Göttingen: Stiftungsrat ehrt Universitätsmitglieder für besondere Aktivitäten und Leistungen (German)
On wisdom
- Psychological Science: Cultivating Wisdom at Work
- Science Daily: Our level of wisdom varies depending on the situation, study finds
- Neuroscience News: Our Level of Wisdom Varies Depending on the Situation
- HRZone: The stark nature of wisdom - and what you need to know to have more of it
- LinkedIn: Can we develop greater wisdom? What does this mean for the workplace?