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Faculties
M.Sc. Charmaine Utzig
Research Interests
My research focuses on self-control and goal pursuit. I am particularly interested in examining how people attribute goal deviations, exploring what constitutes a self-control failure, and understanding the consequences of viewing goal violations as apparent or actual failures. Although goal-deviant behavior can hinder progress toward a goal and initially appear as a failure, important questions remain about the reasons behind such behaviors from the actor’s perspective. Beyond this focus, I am interested in goal balance and strategic indulgence in goal pursuit. In my current work, I am examining how people balance multiple goals in their lives and whether strategic indulgence is associated with goal balance, goal achievement, and well-being. To explore these questions, I plan to employ experience sampling methods, multilevel modeling, and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Professional Positions
2024-present
Research Associate & associated PhD student of the RTG FlexBar,
Department Social Psychology,
Saarland University, Germany
2023-2024
Research Assistant,
Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Germany
2022 (April - August)
Student Tutor for Social Psychology,
University of Heidelberg, Germany
2021-2022
Research Assistant, Institute of Sports and Sports Sciences,
University of Heidelberg, Germany
Clinical Career
2024-present
Training in Psychological Psychotherapy (Ausbildung zur Psychologischen Psychotherapeutin, VT)
Saarländisches Institut zur Aus- und Weiterbildung in Psychotherapie (SIAP), Saarbrücken
Education
2024
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Psychology
University of Heidelberg, Germany
2022
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Psychology
University of Heidelberg, Germany
Conference Contributions
Utzig, C., Brunner, D., & Friese, M. (2026, July). Perceived effort versus effectiveness: What drives self-control strategy choice? [Poster presentation]. 20th EASP General Meeting, Strasbourg, France.
Utzig, C., & Friese, M. (2026, June). What is a self-control failure? Attributions to actual versus apparent failures [Poster presentation]. EASP Small Group Meeting on Self-Regulation, Graz, Austria.
Utzig, C., & Friese, M. (2026, March). Goal Balance [Talk]. RTG 2988 PhD Day, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Utzig, C., & Friese, M. (2025, November). Self-control failure or self-control success – Just a matter of perspective? [Talk]. RTG 2988 Retreat, Nohfelden, Germany.
Utzig, C., & Friese, M. (2025, October). Self-control failure or self-control success – Just a matter of perspective? [Poster presentation]. 44th Motivation Psychology Colloquium, Vienna, Austria.
Utzig, C., & Friese, M. (2025, June). Self-control failure or self-control success? A question of attribution [Poster presentation]. RTG 2988 PhD Day, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Teaching Experience
[Seminar/empirisches Projektmodul] "Goal Balance"
("Empiriepraktikum Sozialpsychologie: Balance in der Zielverfolgung", WS 25/26, SoSe 26)
[Seminar/empirisches Projektmodul] "Self-control strategies"
("Empiriepraktikum Sozialpsychologie: Wahrgenommene Anstrengung und Effektivität von Selbstkontrollstrategien", WS 24/25, SoSe 25)
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a WS = Wintersemester (winter term);
b SoSe = Sommersemester (summer term)