Research projects
Climate Emotions
Climate Emotions and Their Relation to Climate Engagement and Mental Health
Confronting the climate crisis and its consequences can trigger strong emotions – such as anger, sadness, and fear – in individuals. These climate emotions are a key motivator for climate action. We are investigating this relationship through online surveys. We aim to determine which climate emotions are associated with different behaviors, how these emotions affect our mental health, and whether climate engagement can protect our mental health. Further online surveys, as well as experimental studies, are planned for the future.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel, Dr. Dorothea Metzen, Paula Blumenschein
Website: osf.io/xtw2p/
Public Climate School
Public Climate School – Evaluation and Implications
The Public Climate School is a program held over the course of a week at schools and universities across the country, organizing various seminars and lectures on the climate crisis. The goals of the Public Climate School are education for sustainable development and climate education, as well as the improvement of practical competence and self-efficacy. Since 2021, our department has been part of a team that provides scientific support for the Public Climate School. In this capacity, we are investigating whether the Public Climate School has an impact on, for example, climate change knowledge, self-efficacy, climate emotions, or climate action.
Website: https://publicclimateschool.de
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
Discourses of Climate Delay
Discourses of Climate Delay - Delay Discourses and Their Interplay with Emotions and Policy Support
In many conversations about the climate crisis – whether private or public – so-called ‘discourses of climate delay’ circulate: excuses intended to delay climate action. We are investigating these discourses of delay, their connection to climate emotions, and support for political measures. We are working on developing a questionnaire on the discourses of climate delay, but we are also planning experimental studies designed to increase support for political climate protection measures by specifically focusing on discourses of climate delay.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel, Dr. Dorothea Metzen
Towards Precision Psychotherapy for Non-Responding Patients: From Signatures to Predictions to Clinical Utility
DFG Research Group
“Towards precision psychotherapy for non-responding patients: From signatures to predictions to clinical utility” [FOR 5187]
in collaboration with 12 other applicants from HU, FU, Charité, and PHB Berlin
Subproject 8
“Dynamic causal modeling of emotion regulation as predictors of treatment (non-)response to CBT in internalizing disorders” (HE 7464/8-1)
in cooperation with Prof. S. Erk.
Project duration: 2022–2026
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
PANDA: Psychotherapy for Social Anxiety Disorder and Alterations in Neural Processing
Project funding by the DFG for the project
“Psychotherapy for Social Anxiety Disorder and Alterations in Neural Processing (PANDA)” (HE 7464/6-1)
in collaboration with Prof. B. Renneberg.
Project duration: 2019–2022
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
MoMaP-2: Domain-Specific Behavioral and Neural Effects of Motor and Cognitive Fatigue on Modality-Specific Dual-Task Interference in Young and Older Adults
Project funding provided by the DFG Priority Program 1772 for the project
„Domänenspezifische behaviorale und neuronale Effekte von motorischer und kognitiver Ermüdung auf modalitätsspezifische Doppelaufgabeninterferenz bei jungen und älteren Erwachsenen“ (MoMaP-2) (HE 7464/1-2)
in collaboration with Profs. U. Granacher, M. Rapp, C. Stelzel.
Project duration: 2019–2022
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
STEP.De: Sports Therapy for Depression
Project funding provided by the Innovation Fund of the Joint Federal Committee for the project
“Sporttherapie bei Depression (STEP.De)” (01NVF17050)
in cooperation with L. Straubing (consortium leader), D. Chruscz, Dr. A. Heißel, Prof. M. Rapp, O. Schrade, P. Schwitters.
Subproject: Process evaluation of sports and psychotherapy (PI: S. Heinzel)
Project duration: 2018 – 2022
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
Go to the project website
COPE: Neurocognitive Adaptivity and Its Influence Through Cognitive Training in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Project funding by the DFG for the project
“Neurokognitive Adaptivität und deren Beeinflussung durch kognitives Training bei Patienten mit Zwangsstörung (COPE)” (HE7464/4-1)
in collaboration with Dr. R. Grützmann.
Project duration: 2018–2021
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
SPeED: Neural Correlates and Action Mechanisms of Psychotherapy Augmentation with Endurance Sports in Mild to Moderate Depression
Project funding from the DFG for the project
“Neuronale Korrelate und Wirkmechanismen der Augmentation von Psychotherapie durch Ausdauersport bei leichter bis mittelgradiger Depression (SPeED)” (HE 7464/2-1)
in cooperation with Profs. T. Fydrich, A. Ströhle.
Project duration: 2016–2020
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
MoMaP-1: Modality-Specific Effects of Working Memory on Balance Control in Dual-Task Conditions, Associated Neural Correlates, and Training-Induced Plasticity in Older Adults
Project funding by the DFG Priority Program 1772 for the project
“Modalitätsspezifische Effekte im Arbeitsgedächtnis auf Gleichgewichtskontrolle in Doppelaufgaben, assoziierte neuronale Korrelate, und trainingsinduzierte Plastizität im Alter (MoMaP-1)” (HE 7464/1-1)
in collaboration with Profs. U. Granacher and M. Rapp.
Project duration: 2015–2019
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exercise Therapy for Depression
Project funding by the Emanuela Dalla Vecchia Stiftung Depressionsforschung for the project:
“Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie und Gesundheitssport bei Depression”.
In collaboration with Dr. A. Heißel.
Project duration: 2015–2017
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Stephan Heinzel