Multi- and Transdisciplinarity as a Challenge for Environmental Psychology (Symposium)

Since 2008 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has been funding ten transdisciplinary research projects within the thematic focus ‘From Knowledge to Action - New Paths towards Sustainable Consumption’. A particular challenge which is faced with the programm is the task to build a bridge between individual activities and ecological and social framework conditions. Environmental psychologists are involved in half of the ten transdisciplinary projects. The symposium gives an insight into the new thematic focus and the variety of psychological contributions. The presentations will focus on the specific competence of psychology within the broader research focus of the transdisciplinary projects. An invited discussant will reflect on the role of psychology within the field of sustainable consumption and about challenges of transdisciplinary research in general.

A Neural Trait Approach to Exploring Individual Differences in Social Preferences

Research demonstrates that social preferences are characterized by significant individual differences. An important question, often overlooked, is from where do these individual differences originate? And what are the processes that underlie such differences? In this paper, we outline the neural trait approach to uncovering sources of individual differences in social preferences, particularly as evidenced in economic games. We focus on two primary methods—resting-state electroencephalography and structural magnetic resonance imaging—used by researchers to quantify task-independent, brain-based characteristics that are stable over time. We review research that has employed these methods to investigate social preferences with an emphasis on a key psychological process in social decision-making; namely, self-control. We then highlight future opportunities for the neural trait approach in cutting-edge decision-making research. Finally, we explore the debate about self-control in social decision-making and the potential role neural trait research could play in this issue.

A common mechanism underlying food choice and social decisions

People make numerous decisions every day including perceptual decisions such as walking through a crowd, decisions over primary rewards such as what to eat, and social decisions that require balancing own and others’ benefits. The unifying principles behind choices in various domains are, however, still not well understood. Mathematical models that describe choice behavior in specific contexts have provided important insights into the computations that may underlie decision making in the brain. However, a critical and largely unanswered question is whether these models generalize from one choice context to another. Here we show that a model adapted from the perceptual decision-making domain and estimated on choices over food rewards accurately predicts choices and reaction times in four independent sets of subjects making social decisions. The robustness of the model across domains provides behavioral evidence for a common decision-making process in perceptual, primary reward, and social decision making.

A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved? Internet-based group therapy versus individual therapy for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Social anxiety disorder is one of the most researched conditions in the field of Internet-based self-help. Various studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral treatments can be efficacious to reduce social phobic symptoms. Most of the interventions tested include some form of support, whereas the efficacy of a web-based group format has yet to be investigated. The present study aims at investigating the possible added value of therapist-guided group support in an Internet-based guided self-help treatment for SAD. Methods: A total of 150 adults with a diagnosis of SAD are randomly assigned to either a wait-list control group or one of two active treatment conditions. Participants in the two active conditions use the same Internet-based self-help program, either with individual guidance by a therapist or with the support of a therapist-guided group of 6 individuals. In the group condition, participants communicate with each other via an integrated, protected discussion forum. The primary outcome variables are symptoms of SAD and diagnostic status immediately after the intervention (12 weeks) and at 6-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints are general symptomatology, depression, quality of life and adherence to treatment. Furthermore, process variables such as group processes and the working alliance are studied. Results: Results are currently being analyzed. Results at post-treatment will be presented and discussed. Potential moderating and mediating variables of treatment success will be addressed. Conclusion: The results of this study should indicate whether therapist-guided group support could enhance the efficacy of an internet based self-help treatment for SAD. This novel treatment format, if shown efficacious, could represent a cost-effective option and could be further modified to treat other conditions.