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Research
1. What is an emotion?
„Everyone knows what an emotion is, until asked to give a definition.“ (Fehr & Russell, 1984, p.464). If we want to understand the role of emotions in the interactions between the characteristics of persons and situations, we must first figure out what an emotion is. As the quote suggests, the answer seems simpler than it is. We propose understanding emotions as processes in which a person’s feelings, thoughts, physiology, motivation, and expression influence one another and unfold over time. When such processes are visualized, they resemble networks. Accordingly, the approach is called network approach to emotions.
2. Social Functions of Emotions
Emotions help people navigate social opportunities and challenges; in other words, they serve social functions. Over time, social structures can emerge through the emotional interactions of multiple individuals. For example, we are interested in how envy contributes to social inequality, how positive and negative attitudes toward others cause affective polarization, and how shame and guilt can reduce the prevalence of corruption.
3. Formalization of Theories
Emotional interactions between persons and situations over extended periods of time can sometimes be difficult to study empirically. We seek to describe the key processes underlying such interactions theoretically and then explore them through formal models in simulations. We prefer to use agent-based and mathematical modeling.
4. Statistical Modeling of Complex Data
Investigating emotional interactions between persons and situations over time requires (a) the use of study designs capable of capturing dynamic changes, as well as (b) the application of statistical methods that can handle the complex data generated by these study designs. We prefer to use experience sampling designs to collect data on these interactions. In addition, we use and further develop various statistical methods for modeling complex data, including methods from complexity science (e.g., for determining attractors).
Forschungsprojekte
| since 2023 | DFG Individual Research Grant „Development and validation of a formal theory of co-occurring emotions“; https://gepris.dfg.de/project/529674863?lang=en |
| 2021 – 2026 | DFG Individual Research Grant „The role of the parental care system in goal-directed maintenance“. Role of Jens Lange: Co-PI, PI: Yael Ecker, https://gepris.dfg.de/project/465638666?lang=en |
| 2016 – 2019 | DFG Research and Return Stipend „Keeping status: How superiors infer benign and malicious envy of subordinates and regulate it interpersonally“, https://gepris.dfg.de/project/325199698?lang=en |