Projects

A silhouette contains a compass surrounded by the terms Integrity, Respect, Ethics, Values. Antique-looking background (similar to a world map), brown color.

KNOW-THYSELF: Increasing Self-Knowledge to Promote Moral Behavior

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributors/researchers: M. Burghart, N. Casali, T. Khalaf, A. Seidl
The functioning of societies and the quality of social relationships depend on moral behaviors such as fairness, cooperation, and honesty. Conversely, immoral behaviors – including exploitation, dishonesty, and fraud – carry significant societal… more

Chessboard: a pawn stands on a chessboard. The reflection in a round mirror shows a king piece.

EPIC: Elements of Personality and Identity Change

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributors/researchers: M. Burghart, N. Casali, T. Khalaf, J. Peichl, N. Popov, A. Seidl, B. E. Yelbuz
Personality traits, self-concept, and identity are central to how people think about themselves, how they are perceived by others, and how they behave in everyday life. In the moral domain, these aspects shape… more

Colorful figures are surrounded by monochrome wooden figures as a symbol of inclusivity. (A group of colorful game pieces stands in the center, surrounded by beige figures on a blue background, forming a circle.)

The Psychology of Selective Prosociality

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributor/researcher: B. E. Yelbuz
Prosocial behavior is crucial for societal well-being. However, people are often selective in whom they help. From everyday acts of kindness to consequential decisions such as donating after a natural disaster, individuals routinely prioritize some potential recipients over… more

Police officer seen from behind, wearing uniform and yellow vest with police lettering; he is standing next to the police car.

Individual Differences in the Police Force

Heads of project: Matthias Burghart, Hannes Rusch, Isabel Thielmann
Can psychometric testing to assess individual differences usefully complement the existing selection procedures used by state police forces in Germany? – State police forces in Germany receive thousands of applications each year and must select the most suitable candidates for police… more

Hands of people from different backgrounds are placed on top of each other, and the people are wearing colorful knitted sweaters.

The Core Tendencies Underlying Individual Differences in Prosocial Behavior

Head of project: Isabel Thielmann (PI); contributor/researcher: Natalie Popov
Human social interactions rely on prosocial behaviors such as helping, cooperation, and fairness, yet individuals vary widely in the extent to which they engage in such behaviors. While past research has primarily focused on single personality traits to explain this variation… more