Forschungsschwerpunkte der Fakultät
Integrative research program at the Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Science: Mechanisms of Change
Change is a fundamental component of human nature. Humans are especially equipped to adapt to change, and to change their environment, as apparent across the individual lifespan (ontogeny) and societal change over time. The current initiative focuses on the mechanisms underlying change. The overarching goal is to reveal causes and consequences of change in human cognition and behavior, including reciprocal interactions with bodily, neural, and social systems. Identifying mechanisms of change requires unraveling causal and predictive factors of change through experimental and longitudinal designs, often informed by demonstrations of associations via observational, qualitative, or correlational methods.
Nested within this general framework are currently two interdisciplinary research projects which address (1) Mechanisms of Change in Dynamic Social Interactions, with a focus on the interrelations between changes in individual behavior and social dynamics, involving expertise in Psychology, Human Movement Science, Computer Science, and Organizational Science; and (2) Sensitive Periods for Cognitive Change, with a focus on ontogenetic and event-driven time periods which are especially susceptible to changes at the cognitive and neural level, involving expertise in Psychology, Movement Science, Computer Science, and Neuroscience.
Insights into the basic mechanisms of change gained from research within this initiative are key to understanding and modifying enabling conditions and hindrances to successful human change and adaptation.