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Research domains

Research within the unit thus covers the entire range of the human life span, and allows for a description and explanatory analysis of phenomena at different levels of the socio-ecological context. Each of the integrative research domains listed above focuses on a central domain or “area of concern” of societal and individual development to be studied in a multidisciplinary approach.

The common approach of the research programs within the unit is the dedication to multidisciplinarity, taking advantage from an integration of different but complementary theoretical and methodological paradigms.

Psychosocial Stress and Health

Head: Prof. Fernand Anton

Societal development and inherent changes of the social environment constitute challenges requiring the individual continuously to adapt, both at the behavioural and physiological level, leading in the long run to civilization diseases and stress disorders. The investigation of the links between these diseases and social change parameters in all age groups completes the research program of this axis.

Research within this domain focuses on:

  • Psychobiology of Life Style Diseases and Stress Disorders (Director: Prof. Fernand Anton )
  • Social Psychology:  Health Promotion and Aggression Prevention (Director: Prof. Georges Steffgen )
  • Clinical Health Psychology:Mental Disorders and Chronic Physical Conditions (Director: Prof. Claus Voegele )

Generations and Development across the Life-span

Head: Prof. Helmut Willems

Threats to social security and public welfare will challenge developmental and educational contexts, as they will challenge the relations between generations. The European Commission therefore has underlined several times the significance of a new solidarity between generations that should be based on mutual support and the transfer of skills in their recommendations for the confrontation of demographic changes. This clearly underlines the necessity of research on the phenomena associated with intergenerational relations and social change given that the existing research is far from being integrative and interdisciplinary.

Research within this domain focuses on:

Processes and Systems of Social Regulation

Head: Ass. Prof. Ulla Peters

Social change will also affect models of social justice and hence processes of social inclusion and most notably with respect to already vulnerable groups; the empowerment and quality of life of vulnerable groups, therefore, constitute a further area of concern and interdisciplinary field of research. Within this context the distribution of resources, social inequality and especially the treatment of vulnerable groups (e.g., persons with special needs, elderly persons) will represent future research questions.