Research
The focus of our research is on understanding the psychological processes underlying individual and collective decision-making in the energy and climate domain. Our goal is to develop evidence-based interventions and provide valuable insights for behavioral public policy. Our work also extends to the integration of psychological data into energy and climate models, allowing us to examine the wide-ranging impacts of human decisions at a systems level. Through rigorous research methods, our center is advancing behavior change research in the context of sustainability.
Sustainable Judgment and Decision-Making
The scientific basis for the harmful effects of anthropogenic climate change is clear. However, behavior change toward less emission-intensive lifestyles is largely lagging behind the necessary changes. The reasons for this are manifold, ranging from the polarization and politicization of the issue — fueled by systematic disinformation — to habits, misperceptions, and contextual barriers. By applying comprehensive and various methods, we strive to gain a better understanding of the psychological mechanisms behind individual and collective sustainable behaviors in different environments and social groups.
Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions
Traditional policy instruments such as taxes, subsidies, and bans are often insufficient to motivate systematic behavioral change, or they lack public support. We develop and validate theory-based behavioral interventions to promote sustainable behavior and test their effectiveness in various contexts. We also investigate the cognitive, affective, and social mechanisms that influence individual and collective behavioral changes. To this end, we combine, for example, experimental paradigms with process tracing tools.
Human-Centered Climate and Energy Modeling
Behavior does not occur in a vacuum, but is influenced by our social and physical environment. However, psychological research often neglects these influences on and dynamics of human behavior. Additionally, policy design tends to focus more on the cumulative effects of behavior in larger social systems rather than on individual behavior. We address this problem by developing models and model frameworks based on the latest psychological research. In doing so, we pay particular attention to integrating experimental data on human decision-making into system models.