Interindividual differences in personality traits - theory, measurement, development and prediction

People differ in their personality. How these differences can best be represented theoretically, how they can be adequately measured psychometrically and how these differences develop over the lifespan and are reflected in behavior is the focus of this area. In the area of theory development and testing, we deal with structural models of personality (such as the so-called Big Five or the HEXACO model), as well as the question of how theoretical parsimony can be increased without falsely equating functionally different constructs, but also without falsely classifying functionally equivalent constructs as distinct.

In the area of "measurement", we investigate methods of questionnaire construction (e.g. the multidimensional forced-choice format) with which bias tendencies such as socially desirable responses and faking can be reduced. We also investigate how data quality can be checked, e.g. with regard to careless responding. Furthermore, we deal with heterogeneity in the area of measurement (especially with regard to invariance across languages/countries/cultures).

The third area in this focus deals with inter-individual differences in the development of personality traits across the lifespan. We are primarily interested in aversive personality traits such as narcissism or Machiavellianism and their similarities and differences. For example, we investigate how differences in changes in narcissism are related to life events. Regarding the explanation of behavior, we are particularly interested in ethical and social behavior (e.g., dishonesty or exploitation vs. cooperation - typically studied in behavioral economic paradigms) and its prediction by personality traits.

Our research revolves around the question of why and under what circumstances people decide to exclude others. Initial work suggests that people tend to exclude people who are perceived as disruptive or dispensable in a group - for example, because the excluded persons have violated social rules and norms or cannot make a recognizable contribution to the group. Our follow-up work focuses on three core questions:

1) What different situations and contextual factors can promote or contain exclusionary behavior?

2) Under what conditions do people decide against exclusion and in favor of other behaviors, such as active confrontation or helping behavior?

3) How do different experiences of exclusion and presumed reasons influence the reactions of the excluded person?

The aim of our research group is to contribute to theory building and research practice in research on social interactions. To test our assumptions, we rely on laboratory and online experiments as well as on survey studies in everyday contexts such as companies and schools.

Further information about the research group can be found here.

This focus aims to build a bridge between substantive issues in basic and applied disciplines of psychology on the one hand and more recent developments in the field of statistical modeling and psychometrics (e.g. for the analysis of complex data from experimental studies or intensive longitudinal studies) on the other. A particular goal here is to make model classes that were previously limited to specific research areas usable for new areas of application (e.g. for modeling change processes).

Within this focus area, the participation of Landau professors and doctoral students in the DFG Research Training Group "Statistical Modeling in Psychology (SMiP)" should be highlighted. Further information on SMiP can be found here.

The focus on self-regulation examines processes of controlling behavior and experience. On the one hand, we are interested in the role personality (e.g. perfectionism) and abilities (e.g. self-control) play in achieving goals. In addition, there is a particular focus on research into the processes of regulating cognitive and affective states (emotions, moods, stress reactions). Affect regulation is important in many areas of life for forming positive social relationships and maintaining Wellbeing. In addition, dysfunctional affect regulation is a central factor in the development and maintenance of various mental disorders. In addition to the cognitive basis of affect regulation, research focuses on inter-individual differences, neuronal mechanisms, development over the lifespan and interventions to change affect regulation processes.

Within this research focus, the consortium "Affect Regulation: Processes, Interventions and Development in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations (ARPID)" was established and funded from 2019-2023 as part of the state's research initiative. You can find more information about ARPID here.

Uncertainty, misinformation and polarization: social communication in times of permacrisis

The SCOPE area of potential investigates how social communication on long-term crisis issues takes place and what influence this has on social coexistence. In various sub-projects, the communication behaviour of political actors as well as the information behaviour of citizens and their social effects such as polarization or loss of trust are examined using the example of the climate crisis and migration movements. Scientists from the fields of communication and political science, psychology, sociology, environmental science and computer science are participating in this interdisciplinary project. In addition to the scientific gain, the interdisciplinary cooperation also serves to raise the profile of RPTU by building up expertise in the field of Computational Social Sciences (CSS).

Further information on the research focus can be found here.

In this research focus, experimental studies and therapy studies are used to better understand central psychological mechanisms of the development, maintenance, treatment and prevention of mental and physical disorders in all age groups. Exemplary questions from this field: What role do emotional competencies play in the development of mental disorders in children and adults? What significance does the individual neuronal processing of affective information have for resilience to stress-related disorders? How can health behavior be effectively promoted in different target groups? How do body and mind interact in the development of chronic pain? What exactly makes medical and psychological treatments for children and (older) adults effective? The psychotherapeutic outpatient clinics and psychotherapeutic (practical) training and further training in Landau, the central laboratory and numerous regional and international collaborations create excellent conditions for researching the above questions.

Psychological therapy for patients with chronic back pain is effective, but is rarely used. In a current DFG-funded multicenter project (EFFECT-BACK), two different psychological methods, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graduated exposure in vivo (EXP) in the treatment of chronic back pain, are compared in terms of their effectiveness and improvement of perceived limitations. Exploratory research will also be conducted to identify predictors of efficacy for each treatment group in order to optimize treatment options and create effective treatment options for subgroups of pain patients and tailored treatments. In addition, EXP will be given greater focus as an effective and economical treatment option in the outpatient healthcare system.
A total of 380 CLBP (age: ≥ 18 years) in five different centers in Germany, the outpatient treatment centers and pain clinics of the universities of Landau, Mainz, Marburg, Essen and Heidelberg will be included and analyzed.

The Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic WiPP at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU) is one of eight centers nationwide that are investigating three psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of "pornography use disorder", colloquially known as pornography addiction, in a large-scale study led by Justus Liebig University Giessen. The study will compare three psychotherapeutic methods: Intensive therapy with the goal of abstinence, intensive therapy with the goal of reduced use and regular psychotherapy. According to previous findings, psychotherapy can successfully treat problematic pornography consumption in the long term. For this therapy comparison, almost 320 people with "pornography use disorder" will be treated at the eight participating centers (Giessen, Frankfurt, Kassel, Landau, Mainz, Marburg, Saarbrücken, Trier) over the next few years. The Joint Federal Committee, the highest decision-making body of the joint self-administration of doctors, dentists, psychotherapists, hospitals and health insurance companies in Germany, is funding the "PornLoS" study with 5.4 million euros. As part of this study (PornLoS), 40 patients can participate at the Landau study center. People who suffer from problematic pornography consumption and would like to take part in the study, which starts next spring, can contact the study team(www.pornlos.de) as of now.

This profile area has a strong interdisciplinary character. Various working groups in the Department of Psychology deal with these topics, with the Environmental Psychology working group in particular focusing its research on the interactions between humans and the (natural) environment. It investigates which systemic and individual processes inhibit and promote sustainable action and thus contribute to socio-ecological transformation. The IKM as well as social psychology, media psychology and political psychology also deal with the perception and communication of social, societal and global challenges and how to overcome them through behavioral change, altered communication and cooperation. Central research topics of the focus are conflict and cooperation, prejudice, exclusion and discrimination, diversity, ecological, sustainable and environmental action as well as conditions of individual and collective change. In addition to working groups from the department, working groups from other departments are also involved.