Rate My Professor Michael Baker

Michael Baker is an Associate Professor of Psychology at East Carolina University, where he serves as Director of Psychology Undergraduate Studies. He earned his PhD and specializes in evolutionary social psychology, with additional expertise in social psychology, personality, and evolutionary theory. Baker's research investigates human behavior in social and mating contexts, including how situational factors influence male risk-taking as a mating strategy, the replicability of ego depletion effects on self-control, and the impact of mating cues on memory and decision-making. His laboratory work examines phenomena such as spending behaviors depending on whether money is earned or received as a gift, providing students with hands-on experience in running psychological experiments and discussing findings from peer-reviewed journals in weekly meetings.

Baker has held key administrative roles at East Carolina University, including Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate's Admission and Retention Policies Committee. He actively mentors undergraduate researchers through programs like Undergraduate Research Assistantships, URCA awards, and department initiatives, guiding students on projects that contribute to publications and presentations. His scholarly contributions appear in leading journals. Notable publications include 'Risk-taking as a situationally sensitive male mating strategy' with JK Maner in Evolution and Human Behavior (2008), 'A Multi-Site Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego Depletion Effect' with K Vohs and others in Psychological Science (2021), 'Male risk-taking as a context-sensitive signaling device' with JK Maner in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2009), 'Breaking the rules: Low trait or state self-control increases social norm violations' with MT Gailliot and others (2012), and 'Choosing a meal to increase your appeal: How relationship status, sexual orientation, dining partner sex, and attractiveness impact nutritional choices in social dining scenarios' with A Strickland and ND Fox in Appetite (2019). Baker's work advances understanding of evolutionary influences on social behavior and self-regulation.