Do you want to learn more about Political and Intercultural Psychology?

Students at PLUS can join the group for the lecture on teams in intercultural contexts or find our whether nice guys really finish last in our seminar. We also offer opportunities for BA and MA theses as well as (international) research internships and PhD theses. Please get in touch if you want to get involved!

Theses

If you are interested in conducting an empirical thesis in the field of Political and Intercultural Psychology, please send an email including a motivation letter, CV, and transcripts to . Further information on the procedure, content, and registration details can be found on  PlusOnline.

CIVIS BIP: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Mastering the Climate Crisis: Natural, Societal and Psychological Processes

This international and interdisciplinary  Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) brings together students from across Europe to address real-world climate challenges from scientific, societal, and psychological perspectives. The programme combines cutting-edge research, practical insights, and cross-disciplinary teamwork.

What is it about?
The course brings together experts from climate science, environmental studies, the social sciences, and psychology. Students learn how climate change works on a physical level, how societies can adapt, and which psychological barriers hinder sustainable behavior. A particular focus lies on the question: How can we motivate individuals, organizations, and regions to respond effectively to the climate crisis?

What makes this BIP unique?

• Interdisciplinary: Students from the natural sciences, social sciences, psychology, engineering, law, and economics work together.

• Practice-oriented: Direct exchange with regional stakeholders such as Salzburg AG, industry partners, and local communities.

• Hands-on: Excursions to power plants, river and flood areas, and sustainable businesses.

• Psychology meets climate: Insights into motivation, behavior, fear, defense mechanisms, and sustainable decision-making.

• Creative final projects: Teams develop podcasts or videos that address real climate issues and communicate them in an accessible way.

Students gain a deep and holistic understanding of climate change by integrating natural, societal, and psychological perspectives. They learn to collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary and international teams and to apply scientific knowledge in real-world stakeholder interactions. Another key component is science communication: participants practice presenting complex content clearly, creatively, and in a way that resonates with the public. At the same time, they strengthen their critical thinking and their ability to solve real problems using evidence-based approaches. Through intensive virtual and in-person collaboration, they also acquire important digital skills and experience in international teamwork.

Who is the course for?
The course is ideal for advanced Bachelor’s students, Master’s students, and early PhD researchers who want to understand climate change from multiple perspectives and enjoy interdisciplinary collaboration. It is particularly suited for students interested in psychology, sustainability, energy, water, society, or communication, and who are motivated to develop real solutions to real challenges in international teams.

Elective Module: Motivation and Goal Achievement

VU Motivation and Goal Achievement: Fundamental Processes in Politics, Work, and Across Cultures

This course covers foundational and contemporary theories of human motivation, with a particular focus on goal‑directed behavior in contexts such as politics, the workplace, and culture. Students engage with central psychological processes—including intentionality, self‑regulation, and metacognition—drawing on both classical and modern research. Topics include the intention–behavior gap, planning and goal striving, models of self‑control, and the role of attribution in motivation. The course also examines social dimensions of motivation, such as how performance goals are shaped by social influence, the moral‑psychological foundations of commitment, and the dynamics of shared reality and joint action. Applied sections address cultural continuity as a motivational force, the psychology of workaholism and entrepreneurship, and the impact of motivated cognition on political beliefs and decision‑making.

Learning goal: Through critical engagement with empirical literature and theoretical models, students develop a nuanced understanding of how motivation operates within individuals and social systems. The course fosters interdisciplinary thinking and prepares students to apply insights from motivational psychology to real‑world challenges in organizations, cultures, and political contexts.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general and social psychology; familiarity with the concept of goals.

SE Empirical Seminar for the Elective Module Motivation and Goal Achievement

This empirical seminar examines motivation and goal pursuit particularly in group and team contexts. Connections are made to goal‑directed behavior in domains such as politics, work, and the environment. Students participate in an empirical research project. Current research topics include responses to group criticism (e.g., Thürmer et al., 2024) and reactions to deviant group members (e.g., Thürmer & Kunze, 2023), for example in performance tasks or problem‑solving settings. The experimental studies will draw on state‑of‑the‑art methods for analyzing dynamic group interaction (e.g., facial expressions, language), as well as established behavioral measures and self‑reports. Students will learn to independently conduct laboratory studies using these methods and to test their own research questions.

Learning goal: Through hands‑on empirical work, students critically engage with empirical literature and theoretical models, gaining a differentiated understanding of goal pursuit in groups and teams. The course strengthens analytical and interdisciplinary thinking and prepares students to apply motivational psychology to real‑world challenges in organizational, cultural, and political contexts.

Teaching and learning methods: The seminar follows the research process. Coursework includes a short synopsis, peer feedback, and a brief presentation. At the end of the semester, students submit a final report modeled after a scientific paper.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general and social psychology; familiarity with the concept of goals; basic understanding of standard statistical methods.

Additional Courses

VU How Do Groups and Teams Achieve Their Goals?

This lecture/exercise explores goal pursuit in groups and teams within intercultural and political contexts. We analyze how group decision‑making can contribute to societal polarization, how attribution processes shape evaluations of deviant team members, and how diverse teams form a shared identity. Another focus lies on expressions of prosocial personality. Together, we work through current literature from psychological research.

Learning goal: Students gain a foundational understanding of goal pursuit in groups and teams and how personality influences these processes. They learn to apply this knowledge to current challenges in organizational teams and political discourse. Students also learn to locate relevant literature, conduct independent literature searches, and integrate findings into scientific writing. As a global competence, their ability to engage in science‑based discourse is strengthened.

Teaching and learning methods: This lecture/exercise combines asynchronous online learning with synchronous online sessions. Online phases are used for content acquisition and method practice. Synchronous sessions follow a flipped‑classroom approach, focusing on interactive problem‑solving. Method inputs prepare students for independent work.

Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with the basics of social psychology, work and organizational psychology, and research methodology. They should also be able to read scientific texts with guidance.

VO The Psychology of Climate Change and Sustainability

with Mag. Dr. Johannes Klackl

Scientists have agreed for decades that the climate is changing, that human activity is the cause, and that this threatens the survival of many species—including humans. Why is an adequate societal solution still not in sight? This lecture approaches this question from a psychological perspective. We examine human thinking, feeling, and behavior through the lens of different psychological paradigms.

Learning goal: Students understand the major psychological explanations of human cognition, emotion, and behavior in the context of climate change and can analyze everyday climate‑related discourse using these frameworks.