Research

Research and teaching at the Faculty of Psychology, in line with the general objectives of this discipline, focus on the description and explanation of human experience and behaviour, as well as the changes they undergo. The Faculty’s explicit objective is to address everything from the foundations of the relevant processes to the (evidence-based) application and transfer of the insights gained. Basic and application-oriented research are regarded as equally relevant and as interrelated. Diversity in research approaches and topic areas is seen as an asset. On the basis of research approaches in the areas of neuroscience, cognitive and social sciences that complement each other in an integrative way, the Faculty seeks to make theoretically-sound and empirically-testable contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge as well as its transfer. Over the next few years, particular emphasis will be placed on obtaining insight into the psychological mechanisms and effects of societal, social and technological change for experience and behaviour. Examples of fields of action, in which knowledge about the underlying psychological processes will be of great relevance, include health promotion and maintenance, demographic change, and media/digitalisation. It should thus be apparent that the Faculty explicitly considers social responsibility (and thus the “third mission”) to be one of its objectives.

In addition to conducting research into genuine psychological aspects of the aforementioned subjects (e.g. the psychological demands of demographic change or the effects of increasing digitalisation on emotion and cognition), the Faculty also aims to investigate these areas in cooperation with international researchers and with affiliated disciplines (e.g. biology, education science, sociology and medicine). This involves a wide variety of methodological approaches, with integrative methods regarded as particularly promising. Consequently, a high-quality research infrastructure is of great importance and represents a decisive factor for the Faculty’s success. Over the next few years, this will particularly concern the establishment of an outpatient clinic combining research, teaching and practice, with a focus on clinical psychology and diagnostics.