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Gavan J. Fitzsimons

Edward and Rose Donnell Distinguished Professor
Fuqua School of Business
Duke Box 90120, Durham, NC 27708-0120
Fuqua School, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Gavan J. Fitzsimons is the R. David Thomas professor of marketing and psychology at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. His research focuses on understanding the ways in which consumers may be influenced without their conscious knowledge or awareness by marketers and marketing researchers, often without any intent on the part of the marketer. His work has been published in numerous academic journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, Management Science, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Psychological Science. His ideas have also been featured in many popular press outlets such as NPR, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, Oprah Magazine and Time Magazine, amongst many others.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Edward and Rose Donnell Distinguished Professor · 2017 - Present Fuqua School of Business
Professor of Business Administration · 2007 - Present Fuqua School of Business
Professor in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience · 2008 - Present Psychology & Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy · 2015 - Present Center for Child and Family Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2021 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published February 17, 2025
Making Fun of Customers May Help Your Brand
Published November 17, 2023
The Unintended Consequence of Parents Choosing Healthy Food for Kids
Published August 5, 2022
Hiding Habits From the Spouse: How Raiding the Refrigerator for a Snack Can Build a Stronger Relationship

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Recent Publications


When do photos on products hurt or help consumption? How magical thinking shapes consumer reactions to photo-integrated products

Journal Article Journal of Consumer Psychology · April 1, 2025 Consumers and companies frequently integrate products with lifelike photographs of people, animals, and other entities. However, consumer responses to such products are relatively unknown. Drawing on magical thinking and moral psychology, we propose that, ... Full text Cite

Exploring the Link Between Trait Reactance and Antiegalitarian Beliefs

Journal Article Motivation Science · January 1, 2025 Growing income inequality has led to many important social and economic issues. Despite this, many people prefer social hierarchies and tend to resist egalitarian principles. Traditional perspectives attribute this preference to individuals’ conservative p ... Full text Cite

When and Why Antiegalitarianism Affects Resistance to Supporting Black-Owned Businesses.

Journal Article Psychological science · August 2024 Understanding how initiatives to support Black-owned businesses are received, and why, has important social and economic implications. To address this, we designed three experiments to investigate the role of antiegalitarian versus egalitarian ideologies a ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use among African Americans in the South

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wake Forest University School Of Medicine · 2025 - 2028

Leveraging artificial intelligence and social innovation to reduce disparities in COVID-19 testing among African Americans

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2024

Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use among African Americans in the South.

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2023

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Education, Training & Certifications


Columbia University · 1995 Ph.D.