Serena Chen

Serena Chen is a Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she directs the Self, Identity, and Relationships (SIR) Lab. Her research examines how the self is shaped by close relationships and social contexts, with a particular focus on identity formation, self-regulation, and relationship wellbeing. A central theme of her work explores how past and present relationships influence cognition, motivation, and behavior through processes such as transference, whereby expectations and relational patterns re-emerge in interactions with new others. Another major line of research investigates the psychological foundations and consequences of social power, including how power and powerlessness shape cognition, motivation, interpersonal behavior, and experiences of inequality. Across these areas, her work integrates social cognition, personality, and close relationships, often employing innovative methods that combine idiographic and nomothetic approaches. By capturing both general psychological processes and individual-specific experiences, her research provides nuanced insights into how social structures, relationships, and the self interact to shape everyday behavior and wellbeing.