Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Alexander Strobel
Professor for Personality and individual differences
Contact information
Schhol of Science, Faculty of Psychology
Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology and Methods of Psychology
Technische Universität Dresden
Zellescher Weg 17, 01069 Dresden
Phone: +49 (0)351 463-37000
E-Mail:
Research Statement
My primary research interest is the complex interplay between cognition and temperament. Using psychophysiological measures, neuroimaging, and molecular genetics, I currently focus on the following research questions: how effective and how costly are different strategies of the cognitive control of temperamental states and traits; how in turn do the latter impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of cognitive control; and what are the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate or moderate effects of cognition on temperament and vice versa?
Scientific Education
| 2008 | Habilitation (Psychology), Goethe University Frankfurt/M., oral examination: 2008, mentor: Prof. Dr. Sabine Windmann |
| 2005 | Promotion (Psychology), TU Dresden, advisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Brocke |
| 1998 | Diploma (Psychology), TU Dresden, final exams 1998, advisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Brocke |
| 1993 – 1998 | Studies of Psychology, TU Dresden |
Professional Experience
| Since 04/2009 | Professor for Differential and Personality Psychology (W3), TU Dresden |
| 10/2008 – 03/2009 | Interim Professor for Experimental Psychology II, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main |
| 01/2007 – 03/2009 | Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main |
| 01/2005 – 03/2005 | Visiting Fellow, Maastricht Brain Imaging Center |
| 09/1998 – 12/2005 | Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, TU Dresden |
Other Scientific Activities, Honors, Awards
| 2009 | Habilitation award of the University Frankfurt/Main by Hermann-Willkomm-Stiftung |
| 2006 | Heinz-Heckhausen young scientist award by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie |
| 2005 | Young scientist award by Dresdner Gesprächskreis für Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft |
Selected Publications
Anacker, K., Enge, S., Reif, A., Lesch, K.-P., & Strobel, A. (2013). Dopamine D4 receptor gene variation impacts self-reported altruism. Molecular Psychiatry, 18(4), 402-403. doi:10.1038/mp.2012.49
Enge, S., Mothes, H., Fleischhauer, M., Reif, A. & Strobel, A. (2017). Genetic variation of dopamine and serotonin function modulates the feedback-related negativity during altruistic punishment. Scientific Reports, 7, 2996. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02594-3
Strobel, A., Fleischhauer, M., Enge, S., & Strobel, A. (2015). Explicit and implicit Need for Cognition and bottom-up/top-down attention allocation. Journal of Research in Personality, 55, 10-13. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2014.11.002
Strobel, A., Strobel, A., Enge, S. Fleischhauer, M., Reif, A., Lesch, K.-P. & Anacker, A. (2018). Intellectual investment, dopaminergic gene variation, and life events: A critical examination. Personality Neuroscience, 1, e3. doi:10.1017/pen.2018.2
Strobel, A., Zimmermann, J., Schmitz, A., Reuter, M., Lis, S., Windmann, S., & Kirsch, P. (2011). Beyond revenge: Neural and genetic bases of altruistic punishment. Neuroimage, 54(1), 671-680. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.07.051