Dr. Felix G?tz

Academic education

• 2019, Doctoral degree in Psychology, University of Würzburg

• 2013, Diploma in Psychology, University of Würzburg

• 2010/2011, Exchange Student, University of Salamanca

Professional employment history

• 08/2022-09/2022,?Research stay at the Interacting Minds Centre?(Prof. Cordula Vesper), Aarhus University (DK)

• 2019-present, PostDoc Researcher, Department of Experimental Psychology (Cognitive Control Lab, Prof. Gesine Dreisbach), University of Regensburg (DE)

• 2015-2019, Research Associate, Department of General Psychology II (Motivation and Emotion in Action Lab, Prof. Andreas Eder), University of Würzburg (DE)

• 10/2016-12/2016, Research stay at the Department of Cognitive Science (Social Mind and Body Group, Prof. Natalie Sebanz & Prof. Günther Knoblich), Central European University (CEU), Budapest (HU)

• 2013-2015, Research Associate, Department of Social Psychology (Social Cognition Lab, Prof. Fritz Strack), University of Würzburg (DE)

Ad hoc peer-review activities

• PLOS ONE

• Cognitive Processing

• Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

• European Journal of Social Psychology

Professional memberships

• European Association of Social Psychology (EASP)

• German Psychological Society (DGPs)

Courses BSc Psychology (German language only)

• WiSe: Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion I: Stimulus-Response-Kompatibilit?t

• WiSe: Experimentalpsychologisches Projektseminar?(Expra) I

• SoSe: Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion II: Human Factors

• SoSe: Experimentalpsychologisches Projektseminar?(Expra) II

Courses MSc Psychology / Psychological Science (German?language only)

• Bei Bedarf/unterstützend: Forschungspraktikum (Fopra)

Supervision of theses (German & English language)

• Bachelorarbeiten / Bachelor theses

• Masterarbeiten / Master theses

• Praktika (im Rahmen des BSc- wie MSc-Studiums der Psychologie) / internships

Topics

• Cognitive Control in the context of?Socially Triggered Response Conflicts, i.e. conflicts between co-actors in the?"Relay-race"/"Card-flipping" Joint Action Paradigm? (e.g., Congruency Sequence Effect, Proportion Congruency Effect, Reward Modulations)?[majority of BSc/MSc theses and Expra/Fopra projects]

• Exploration of potential links between Self-Prioritization and Conflict Management in Perceptual Matching Judgments??[BSc theses]

• Sociomotor Action Control in the?Joint Goal-Setting Paradigm?[BSc/MSc theses]

• Automaticity of Number Processing in the?Gestalt-SNARC paradigm?[BSc theses]

• G?tz, F. J., & Rennert, J. (in press). Die Psychologie des Gehorsams: Von autorit?rer Pers?nlichkeit zu widerwilliger Kooperation [Psychology of Obedience: From Authoritarian Personality to Reluctant Cooperation]. In D. Burkard & S. Pongratz (Eds.), Proceedings of the conference "Refused Obedience in Religious Discourses. Focuses from the Middle Ages to the Present" (Würzburg: [Publisher]).

• G?tz, F.J. &?Dreisbach, G. (2025). How a co-actor’s (Un-) reliability modulates goal selection in a novel joint goal-setting paradigm.?Psychological Research,?89(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-024-02056-2? ?

• Becker, D., Bijleveld, E., Braem, S. , Fr?ber, K., G?tz, F. J., Kleiman, T., K?rner, A., Pfister, R., Reiter, A. M. F., Saunders, B., Schneider, I. K. Soutschek, A., van Steenbergen, H., & Dignath, D. (2024). An integrative framework of conflict and control. Trends in Cognitive Sciences,?28(8), 757–768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2024.07.002??

• Krishna, A.* &?G?tz, F. J.*?(2024). Motor Coordination Induces Social Identity – A Novel Paradigm for the Investigation of the Group Performance-Identity Link. British Journal of Social Psychology.?https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12757

*shared first authors.

• Fr?ber, K., Abel, M., B?uml, K.-H., Dreisbach, G., Kliegl, O., K?ster, M., Lingnau, A., Volberg, G., & G?tz, F. J. (eds.). (2024). Abstracts of the 66th TeaP. [Conference object] TeaP Conference 2024, Regensburg, Germany.

• Fr?ber, K., Abel, M., B?uml, K.-H., Dreisbach, G., Kliegl, O., K?ster, M., Lingnau, A., Volberg, G., & G?tz, F. J.?(2024). Program of the 66th TeaP. [Conference object] TeaP Conference 2024, Regensburg, Germany.?https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.15180

• K?rner, A., G?tz, F. J., & Krishna, A. (2023). Free to see the Big Picture: Autonomy Increases Abstractness of Action Identification. Collabra: Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.88165

• G?tz, F. J., Mitschke, V., & Eder, A. B. (2023). Conflict experience and resolution underlying obedience to authority.?Scientific Reports,?13(1), 11161.?https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38067-z

• G?tz, F. J., B?ckler, A., Eder, A. B. (2020). Low numbers from a low head? Effects of observed head orientation on numerical cognition. Psychological Research, 84, 2361-2374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-019-01221-2

• G?tz, F. J. (2019). Social Cueing of Numerical Magnitude (Doctoral dissertation). OPUS Würzburg. https://doi.org/10.25972/OPUS-18716

Invited talks

• G?tz, F. J. (2025).?Follow you or me? Response Conflicts Loom Larger when Triggered by a Human than a Computer Co-Actor.?Talk presented?at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2025).?Follow you or me? Response Conflicts Loom Larger when Triggered by a Human than a Computer Co-Actor.?Talk presented at the Cognitive Control Colloquium of Washington University in St- Louis (Julie Bugg & Wouter Kool), St. Louis, Missouri (US).

• G?tz, F. J. (2025). Psychologie des Gehorsams: Von autorit?rer Pers?nlichkeit zu widerwilliger Kooperation [Psychology of Obedience: From Authoritarian Personality to Reluctant Cooperation]. Talk presented at the interdisciplinary conference Refused Obedience in Religious Discourses. Focuses from the Middle Ages to the Present (organized by Dominik Burkard), Würzburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2024).?No Evidence for a Link Between Self-Prioritization and Cognitive Control in Perceptual Matching Judgments.?Talk presented at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2024).?How a Co-Actor's (Un)Reliability Modulates Goal Selection in a Novel Joint Goal-Setting Paradigm.?Talk presented at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2023).?Modulating Effects of Reward and Punishment on Conflict Management in interindiviudal Response Conflicts.?Talk presented at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2023).?Action Control Implications of Asymmetries in Joint Action.?Talk presented at the Social Cognition?Colloquium of the University of Würzburg (Roland Deutsch, Andreas Eder, & Fritz Strack), Würzburg (DE).

• Fr?ber, K.* &?G?tz, F. J.*?(2022).?The Regensburg Solution.?Talk presented at the 2nd Joint Conflict Network?Meeting at the University?of Tübingen (organized by David Dignath & Daniela Becker), Tübingen (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2022).?Driven by intention or stimulus? The forces that drive leaders vs. followers in cooperative actions.?Talk presented at the Interacting Minds Centre (IMC) Tuesday Seminar at Aarhus University (Cordula Vesper & Joshua C. Skewes), Aarhus (DK).

• G?tz, F. J. (2022).?The List-Wide Proportion Congruency Effect (LWPCE) in Interindividual Response Conflicts.?Talk presented at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2021).?Two Projects on Interindividual Conflicts and their Modification in the Context of Asymmetrical Joint Actions.?Talk presented at the Joint Conflict Network Kickoff Meeting at the University?of Tübingen (organized by David Dignath & Daniela Becker), Tübingen (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2021).?Follow You, Follow Me? A Novel Paradigm to Study Interindividual Response Conflicts.?Talk presented at the Joint Cognitive Control Colloquium of the Universities of Greifswald and Regensburg?(Rico Fischer & Gesine Dreisbach), Greifswald/Regensburg (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2021). Follow You, Follow Me? A Novel Paradigm to Study Interindividual Response Conflicts in the Lab and Online. Talk presented at the Action Control Colloquium at Eberhard-Karls-Universit?t (David Dignath), Tübingen (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2019). Measuring Social Interaction in the Context of Charismatic Authority. Talk presented at Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) (organized by?Cordula Vesper & Adrian Hermann), University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2019). Social Cueing of Numerical Magnitude. Talk presented at Albert-Ludwigs-Universit?t (David Dignath), Freiburg im Breisgau (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2018). Under the Spell of Authority: Adaption of a Bug-Killing Paradigm for the Study of Obedience to Authority. Talk presented at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) (organized by?Adrian Hermann & Cordula Vesper), University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2017). Effects of Social Cueing on Number Processing. Talk presented at University of Potsdam (Martin Fischer), Potsdam (DE).

• G?tz, F. J. (2016). Autonomy, level of action identification and asymmetric joint action. Talk presented at Central European University (CEU) (Natalie Sebanz & Günther Knoblich), Budapest (HU).

Conference presentations (first autorship only)

• G?tz, F. J.?& Dreisbach, G. (2025).?No Evidence for a Link Between Self-Prioritization and Cognitive Control in Perceptual Matching Judgments.?Poster presented at “67th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Frankfurt (DE). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J.?& Dreisbach, G. (2024).?Interacting with a Human But Not the Computer Motivates Conflict Adaptation in Interindividual Response Conflicts.?Poster presented at “66th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Regensburg (DE). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J.?& Dreisbach, G. (2023).?Interacting with a Human But Not the Computer Motivates Conflict Adaptation in Interindividual Response Conflicts.?Poster presented at “9th Joint Action Meeting (JAM)", Budapest (HU). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J.?& Dreisbach, G. (2023).?Follower's Reliability Modulates Leader's Goal Persistence in a Novel Joint Goal-Setting Paradigm.?Poster presented at “9th Joint Action Meeting (JAM)", Budapest (HU). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J.?& Dreisbach, G. (2023). Follow My Lead! Modulation of Goal Persistence by a Co-Actor's Reliability in?a Joint Goal-Setting Paradigm.?Talk given at “65th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Trier (DE). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., Fr?ber, K.,?& Dreisbach, G. (2022). Follow My Lead! Influence of Follower's Reliability on Leader's Goal Persistence in a Joint Goal-Setting Paradigm.?Poster presented at “64th?Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Cologne (DE). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J., & Dreisbach, G. (2021). Follow you or follow me? A novel paradigm to study interindividual response conflicts.?Talk given at “63rd?Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Ulm (DE). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., & Krishna, A. (2020).?Motor Coordination Induces Social Identification: An Exploration into the link between Joint Action and Group Perception.?Talk given at “62nd Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Jena (DE). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., & Eder, A. B. (2019). Free will vs. obedience: Establishing a new experimental paradigm for the study of Milgram-style Effects. Talk given at “17th Conference of the Social Psychology Section (FGSP)”, Cologne (DE). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., & Eder, A. B. (2019). Adaption of a bug-killing paradigm for the study of obedience to authority. Poster presented at “8th Joint Action Meeting (JAM)”, Genova (IT). [poster]

• G?tz, F. J., & Eder, A. B. (2019). Obedience vs. free will: Adaption of a bug-killing paradigm for the study of obedience to authority. Talk given at “61st Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, London (GB). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., B?ckler, A& Eder, A. B. (2018). Head Cueing of Numerical Cognition. Talk given at “20^th ESCON Conference”, Cologne (DE). [talk]

• G?tz, F. J., B?ckler, A., Heineck, P. M., & Eder, A. B. (2018). Effects of vertical head orientation on spatial attention. Talk given at “60th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Marburg (DE). [talk]

• Goetz, F. J., K?rner, A., & Vesper, C. (2017). Producing music vs. pressing keys together - representing joint action goals. Poster presented at “7th Joint Action Meeting (JAM)”, London (GB). [poster]

• Goetz, F. J., K?rner, A., F?rster, G., & Strack, S. (2017). Autonomy and Level of Action Identification. Talk given at “59th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Dresden (DE). [talk]

• Goetz, F. J., Eder, A. B., B?ckler, A., & Strack, F. (2016). Face cueing effects in a personalized anchoring paradigm. Talk given at “50th Congress of the German Psychological Society (DGPs)”, Leipzig (DE). [talk]

• Goetz, F. J., Eder, A. B., Strack, F., B?ckler, A., & Heineck, P. M. (2016). Face cueing effects in a personalized anchoring paradigm?. Talk given at “58th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Heidelberg (DE). [talk]

• Goetz, F. J. (2015). Big Brother is Watching Me – Mechanisms and Functions of Intimidation. Talk given at “12th PhD Workshop of the German Psychological Society’s (DGps) Social Psychology Section”, Münster (DE).
  [talk]

• Goetz, F. J., & Markel, P. (2014). Hide or Seek! A regulatory focus approach to the behavioral consequences of institutional intimidation. Poster presented at “17^th EASP General Meeting”, Amsterdam (NL). [poster]

• Goetz, F. J., & Markel, P. (2014). Hide or Seek! A regulatory focus approach to the behavioral consequences of institutional intimidation. Poster presented at “56th Conference of Experimental Psychologists (TeaP)”, Gie?en (DE). [poster]

I am active on X (@FelixJGoetz) and researchgate (Felix J. G?tz).

Some of my work has been featured in the media and on podcasts (mostly in German). Here are a few examples.

Radio and TV Interviews

• TV documentary on authority and obedience, highlighting my research on the topic (G?tz et al., 2023; G?tz & Rennert, 2025), and featuring an interview conducted by Jasmina Neudecker. The program will air on ZDF's Terra Xplore; the broadcast date is TBA.
• TV documentary on Milgram's Studies, highlighting my research on obedience (G?tz et al., 2023; G?tz & Rennert, 2025), and featuring an interview with my collaborator Vanessa Mitschke. Aired on ZDF'sTerra Xplore?on?January 23, 2025.?https://www.zdf.de/play/explainer/brain-projects-historische-psychologische-experimente-und-behandlungen-100/milgram-experiment-wie-gehorsam-bist-du-102?
• Radio documentary commemorating Stanley Milgram's passing 40 years ago, highlighting my research on obedience (G?tz et al., 2023; G?tz & Rennert, 2025), and featuring an interview by Ulrich Biermann. Aired on WDR?Zeitzeichen on December 20, 2024.?https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/audio/zeitzeichen/stanley-milgrams-experiment-der-mann-der-die-welt-schockte-100-100.html?
• Radio documentary on fan culture, featuring a reference to and brief interview with my collaborator Anand Krishna about our publication on motor coordination and social identification (Krishna & G?tz, 2024). Aired on Deutschlandfunk Systemfragen on June 6, 2024.?https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/fussball-filmstars-musik-wann-werden-wir-eigentlich-zu-fans-dlf-e732b9cf-100.html
• Radio documentary on obedience, featuring a reference to and brief interview about the obedience publication (G?tz et al., 2023). Aired on SWR2 Wissen on March 7, 2024.?https://www.swr.de/swrkultur/wissen/gehorsam-sein-warum-wir-uns-unterordnen-swr2-wissen-2024-03-07-104.html?
• Radio program focused on my original obedience publication (G?tz et al., 2023). Aired on SWR Wissen on August 2, 2024.?https://www.swr.de/wissen/wie-gehorsam-sind-menschen-100.html
• Radio program focused on my original obedience publication (G?tz et al., 2023). Aired on BR Wissen kompakt on July?24, 2023.

Podcast Coverage

• Popular science podcast hosted by Gerald Hüther and Robert Burdy, covering my original obedience publication (G?tz et al., 2023).?Aired on?Ist das Information oder kann das weg? on September 3, 2023.?https://ist-das-information-oder-kann-das-weg.blogs.audiorella.com/19-new-episode
• Popular science podcast hosted by Nicolas W?hrl and Reinhard Remfort, covering my original obedience publication (G?tz et al., 2023).?Aired on methodisch inkorrekt!?on August 8, 2023.?https://minkorrekt.de/mi262-spionagepflanze/

Media Coverage

• https://phys.org/news/2024-05-movement-strong-togetherness.html
• https://neurosciencenews.com/moral-obedience-free-will-23669/
• https://neurosciencenews.com/web-stories/obedience-authority-psychology-222/
• https://www.wissenschaft.de/gesellschaft-psychologie/zwischen-gehorsam-und-moral/
• https://www.welt.de/gesundheit/plus246660032/Psychologie-Die-Testpersonen-toeteten-in-hohem-Masse-auf-Befehl.html
• https://www.mdr.de/wissen/studie-zu-milgram-experiment-mit-tieren-100.html