Sustainable Change Through Individual Action
Hub Science „Psychology of Transformation“
How can societies successfully transform into more sustainable ones? Psychological research at Leuphana identifies the key actors in this transformation (e.g., policymakers, media professionals, citizens, and businesses), the societal support for transformation, 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 behavior change 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 prediction of behavior, as well as on communicating scientific findings to society.
THE CHALLENGE
Previous psychological studies have often focused on isolated factors of behavior 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 behavior change as a cross-cutting topic of digital, sociopolitical, entrepreneurial-technical, and sustainable transformations.
OUR APPROACH
We understand individual behavior 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.
Affiliated researchers
In addition, Prof. Dr. Lea Boeker, Prof. Dr. Manuel Bohn, Prof. Dr. Poldi Kuhl, Prof. Dr. Franziska Kößler, Prof. Dr. Dirk Lehr, Prof. Dr. David Loschelder, Prof. Dr. Birte Siem and Prof. Dr. Laura Venz take part as associated researchers and doctoral supervisors.
The doctoral researchers in the key subject area include Miriam Blockhaus, Pelin Kuecuekerdogan, Luca Lambers, Victoria Oklu, Paula Rubertus, Mayleen Luisa Schack and Mari Uesugi, who are also participating in the “Embracing Transformation” doctoral program.
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 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.
