Rich Lucas

The Personality and Well-Being Lab is a research group in Michigan State University’s Department of Psychology, within its Social-Personality Program. Directed by Professor Richard E. Lucas, the lab studies personality processes, subjective well-being, and the relationships between them. Its work also addresses how personality and well-being are measured, as well as research practices, replication, and methodological best practices in psychology.

The lab shares findings and resources on topics including life satisfaction, personality stability, social support, adaptation to disability, marriage, and regional well-being. Its research uses approaches such as longitudinal and panel data analysis, and it communicates results through academic papers, preprints, and accessible educational material. The lab also features Great Myths of Personality, a book by Lucas and Brent Donnellan that examines common beliefs about personality and the evidence behind them, with content relevant to undergraduate psychology courses.

In addition to its research and publications, the lab offers opportunities for undergraduate students to gain direct experience with the research process and provides information for prospective graduate researchers.