Professor
Director of the Interpersonal Relations and Motivation Research Group
Social Psychology
Director of Graduate Studies
Ph.D., University of Rochester
B.S., Oregon State University

Heyne Building, Room 103C
713-743-8524
Knee@UH.EDU

Biographical Summary

Dr. Knee studies close relationships and interpersonal processes from a motivation perspective that incorporates personality, developmental, and situational influences on optimal individual and relational health.

Recent Research Funding

• NIH, NCI: (Co-I) On the move: A self-determination exercise intervention
• NIMH: Implicit theories as moderators of the link between conflict and relational quality
• UH Program to Enhance External Funding: Partner idealization and reactions to conflict: The role of relationship beliefs
• UH Research Initiation Grant: Implicit theories of relationships: Effects on satisfaction, longevity, and interracial relationships

Research Interests

• Implicit theories of relationships are specific beliefs that people bring with them into their relationships. Destiny belief concerns the stability of one's impressions about relationships. Growth belief concerns the stability of problems in relationships. These beliefs help guide how people perceive, initiate, and maintain romantic relationships
• Self-determination, or autonomy, in romantic relationships refers to fully endorsing one's own involvement rather than feeling coerced, guilty, or not knowing why one is in the relationship. One's degree of self-determination and autonomous investment has a great deal to do with how people approach and manage conflict in romantic relationships
• Relationship-contingent self-esteem is self-esteem that depends on one's relationship, and reflects a particular kind of unhealthy relationship investment. When one's self-regard is hooked on one's relationship, one is strongly influenced by relationship events and outcomes because of the implications those events have for the self

Teaching

• Introduction to Social Psychology (undergraduate)
• Social Psychology Methodology (graduate)
• History and Theories of Social Psychology (graduate)
• Human Motivation (graduate)
• Human Motivation (undergraduate honors)
• Professional Development (graduate)
• Persuasion and Behavior (undergraduate honors)

Selected Publications

Wickham, R.E., & Knee, C. R. (in press). Interdependence theory and the actor-partner interdepence model: Where theory and method converge. Personality and Social Psychology Review.

Uysal, A., Lin, H.L., Knee, C. R., & Bush, A. (2012). The association between self-concealment from one's partner and relationship well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 39-51.

Uysal, A., Lin, H., & Knee, C.R. (2010). The role of need satisfaction in self-concealment and well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36, 187-199.

Knee, C. R., Canevello, A., Bush, A. L., & Cook, A. (2008). Relationship-contingent self-esteem and the ups and downs of romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 608-627.

Patrick, H., Knee, C.R., Canevello, A., & Lonsbary, C. (2007). The role of need fulfillment in relationship functioning and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 434-457.

Knee, C.R., Lonsbary, C., Canevello, A., & Patrick, H. (2005). Self-determination and conflict in romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 6, 997-1009.

Knee, C. R., Patrick, H., Vietor, N. A., & Neighbors, C. (2004). Implicit theories of relationships: Moderators of the link between conflict and commitment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(5), 617-628.

Patrick, H., Neighbors, C., & Knee, C.R. (2004). Appearance -related social comparisons: The role of contingent self-esteem and perceptions of attractiveness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(4), 501-514.

Knee, C.R., Patrick, H., & Lonsbary, C. (2003). Implicit theories of relationships: Orientations toward evaluation and cultivation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7(1), 41-55.

Neighbors, C., & Vietor, N.A., & Knee, C.R. (2002). A motivational model of driving anger and aggression. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(3), 324-335.

Hodgins, H.S., & Knee, C.R. (2002). The integrating self and conscious experience. In E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of self-determination research. University of Rochester Press.

Knee, C. R., Patrick, H., Vietor, N.A., Nanayakkara, A., & Neighbors, C. (2002). Self-determination as growth motivation in romantic relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(5), 609-619.