CIVIL SOCIETY INTERVENTIONS LAB

Principle Investigators:
Prof. Dr. Malek Bajbouj, Dr. Ronja Demel, Prof. Dr. Thorsten Faas, Dr. Denis Gerstorf, Prof. Dr. Simon Koschut

Associate researcher:
Dr. Nadine Knab

The Civil Society Interventions Lab is dedicated to developing and testing a range of interventions aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of affective polarization
at both the individual and group levels. This stream focuses on translating the insights gained from our empirical research into practical, targeted interventions.
These include strategies to help individuals to cope with stress and emotional challenges caused by affective polarization, as well as initiatives designed to foster constructive dialogue, cooperation, and a mutual understanding between opposing civil society groups.

Research Questions and Objectives

Our work in the Interventions Lab is flexibly aligned with our findings throughout the ERU-CAP research process, while being driven by two overarching questions:

  • Which coping strategies can effectively buffer the negative consequences of affective polarization at the individual and group level?

  • How can civil society actors foster constructive interactions and communication between polarized civil society groups and thus help strengthen societal resilience?

To ensure that the interventions developed are both feasible and effective in real-world contexts, we collaborate closely with a wide range of transdisciplinary partners, including civil society organizations, psychologists, and policy experts. This collaborative approach ensures that the interventions are not only grounded in scientific research but are also tailored to meet the needs of diverse communities and social contexts. Click here to find out more about our partners from civil society.

Research Streams