Richard E. Petty

Who is Richard E. Petty?

Richard E. Petty is Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at The Ohio State University.

He received his Ph. D. in Social Psychology from Ohio State in 1977. After graduation Richard E. Petty went on to start his academic career as the Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Missouri and in 1985 he was named the Frederick A. Middlebush Professor of Psychology. In 1987 he returned to Ohio State University for an appointment as a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Social Psychology Doctoral Program and has been a Distinguished University Professor since 1998. He served as Chair of the Psychology Department from 1998–2000 and again from 2008–present.

Petty’s research focuses on the situational and individual differences factors responsible for changes in beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. More specifically, his current work examines the Elaboration Likelihood Model of persuasion. This model is used to understand prejudice, consumer choice, political and legal decisions, and health behaviors.