Sustainable Change Through Individual Action
Hub Science „Psychology of Transformation“
How can we successfully transition to a sustainable society? Psychological research at Leuphana identifies the key actors in this transformation (e.g., policymakers, media professionals, citizens, and businesses), the support for transformation within society, and reactions to transformation in the workplace. We explore these three research areas in the Transformation Lab through a cross-faculty approach and in collaboration with the five key subject areas.
Our Goal
We seek to understand how individual behavioral changes can contribute to a more sustainable society. Our goal is to develop an integrative theory of transformation that systematically combines various psychological approaches. To this end, we develop and test forms of intervention that promote sustainable behavior while taking into account the various social actors. We place particular emphasis on valid behavioral prediction, as well as on communicating scientific findings to society.
The Challenge
Previous psychological studies have often focused on isolated factors of behavioral change. In doing so, they frequently failed to take into account that sustainable behavior depends on a multitude of interrelated mechanisms. Within our three research areas, we therefore examine behavioral change as a cross-cutting theme of digital, sociopolitical, entrepreneurial-technical, and sustainable transformations.
Our Approach
We view individual behavioral change as a driver of societal transformation. To establish a psychology of transformation, we analyze the psychological foundations of sustainable behaviors using interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches and empirical methods, such as field studies and diary studies. We develop practical forms of intervention for sustainable action that take into account the diversity of psychological factors.
Psychological research at Leuphana is conducted as an interdisciplinary and cross-faculty Hub Science: Researchers from the School of Management & Technology, the School of Sustainability, and the School of Education are are working closely together to develop a psychology of transformation.
The key subject area is part of the Embracing Transformation program, which is funded by the Strategic Development of Potential initiative of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation.
