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

• Subject Area: Psychology
• Term: from 2002 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273421

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.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Osnabrück
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Julius Kuhl
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Renate de Jong-Meyer; Privatdozent Dr. Reiner Kaschel; Professorin Dr. Heidi Keller; Professor Dr. Jürgen Kriz; Professorin Dr. Beate Schücking