RTG 772: Integrative Competencies and Well-Being: Somatic, Psychological, Social and Cultural Determinants

Basic data for this project

Description

The interdisciplinary program is aimed at studying those determinants of psychological and physical well-being that refer to integrative competencies. Integrative competencies have emerged at the different levels of analysis of the fields involved as essential determinants of individual adaptation to the environment. "Integrative competencies" comprise the ability to (1) solve intra- and inter-personal conflicts by integrating conflicting needs, motives, intentions etc. (2) stand back from one¿s own perspective and (3) feel empathy for others. Our research training group will focus on issues at the interface between health psychology and basic psychological research. Basic issues in health psychology research, such as health behavior (e.g. exercise, use of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine and other aspects of diet), coping with stress, negative emotions and illness, prevention and evaluation are researched with respect to proximal and distal causal mechanisms.