Why Study “Mechanisms of Change”?
Change is a fundamental characteristic of human life and occurs on many levels: in society, in social groups, and in our own behavior, emotion, and cognition. Humans are particularly adept at adapting to change. This is evident, for example, in the brain’s remarkable ability to adjust its functional and structural organization across the lifespan, in the complex temporal dynamics of social collectives, and in the evolution of societies over time.
However, the rapid changes we currently face present an unprecedented challenge. From climate change to the influence of social media and the growing role of AI systems, we are experiencing transformations that are both swift and far-reaching, making it essential to understand how we can adapt to these developments.
What are the fundamental mechanisms of human adaptability? What are its limits, and how can we support adaptation? And what are the risks of maladaptive adjustment processes? These are the questions explored within the "Mechanisms of Change" (MoC) profile initiative by researchers from psychology, movement science, and computer science.
What is the Goal of MoC?
The overarching goal of the MoC initiative is to understand the mechanisms of change in human systems and to uncover the causes and consequences of transformations across multiple levels—within and between individuals, groups, and societies.
Within MoC, we investigate, for example, how social interactions evolve and what consequences these changes have, or how the increasing role of automated and artificial systems influences our behavior and cognition.
In the long term, our aim is to use our understanding of fundamental change mechanisms to identify conditions that enable people to achieve an optimal balance between change and stability. This will help identify measures to overcome barriers to change in dysfunctional or maladaptive individual and social systems and to initiate adaptive transformations.
What Approach Does MoC Take?
Identifying key mechanisms of change requires a multimethod approach that allows us to study transformations at different levels. These methods include observational studies, experimental and neuroscientific approaches, modeling techniques, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, as well as prospective and retrospective research in both healthy and impaired systems.
To achieve this, the MoC profile initiative, originally founded within the Faculty of Psychology and Movement Science, now includes researchers from the Center of Better Work and Science and Transfer Center Active City as well as computer science, medicine, neuroscience, educational science, and organizational science.
Current Research Focus Areas
- Mechanisms of Change in Dynamic Social Interactions
This research focuses on the interplay between changes in individual behavior and social dynamics. It is a collaborative effort involving psychology, movement science, computer science, and organizational science. - Neural and Cognitive Changes Across Multiple Timescales
From the long-term effects of events occurring during sensitive periods to short-term adaptations to momentary changes, this research is conducted jointly by psychology and neuroscience. - Changes in Health Behavior and Physical Performance
This area covers topics ranging from fundamental motor skills in children to clinical and elite sports-related issues. Researchers from movement science and psychology collaborate on these topics.