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Projekt
Koordinationsfonds
Antragsteller
Professor Dr. Christian Unkelbach
Fachliche Zuordnung
Sozialpsychologie und Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie
Förderung
Förderung von 2014 bis 2022
Projektkennung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 246329797
A key challenge for social psychology is to identify unifying principles that account for the complex dynamics of social behavior. We propose psychological relativity, along with its core mechanism of comparison, as one such unifying principle. Social cognition is essentially relative in nature, in that it is strongly shaped by comparative thinking. The goal of this research unit is to demonstrate that this fundamental element of cognition explains a wide variety of behavior. Specifically, we seek to demonstrate the central role of comparison by identifying its antecedents and consequences. Our proposal is guided by the idea that, if comparative thinking is indeed a central mechanism in social psychology, then it should be affected by, and affect itself, a wide variety of phenomena.We will therefore set up an interdisciplinary research group consisting of eight interconnected projects. Even though the projects approach the topic from many different directions, they show a strong methodological and conceptual overlap. In particular, all projects are united by a strong emphasis on the cognitive underpinnings of social behavior, and thus have a clear social cognition focus. This shared focus is interwoven with an interdisciplinary perspective that takes into account conceptual insights and methodological approaches from animal behavior and behavioral economics research.We will explore the antecedents and consequences of comparative thinking by focusing on some of the most fundamental, ubiquitous, and influential intrapersonal and interpersonal processes and concepts of psychological science. On the intrapersonal level, we will focus on evaluative thinking, embodiment, and self-control as core variables. On the interpersonal level, we will focus on morality, social hierarchies, and cooperation. In addition, the research unit will involve two overarching projects, one exploring the evolutionary foundations of comparison, and one further developing the methodological foundation for the study of comparative thinking.The research unit brings together some of the leading international experts in the pertinent fields. In fact, each of the individual projects is headed by a person or group that belong to the most influential researchers in the respective domain. Furthermore, the University of Cologne provides the ideal environment for the proposed research unit. It offers an inspiring interdisciplinary research context paired with a unique research infrastructure and strong support from the central university bodies. In fact, the research unit is embedded in one of 9University of Cologne’s four key profile areas that were established during the German Excellence Initiative.Together, the research unit will provide important insights into the intrapersonal and interpersonal antecedents and consequences of comparative thinking, and, hence, the essential relativity of social cognition. This will allow us to develop an integrative perspective on psychologic
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