Initiative Together for Democracy
Who we are
In June 2024, twenty professors, staff and students from the Faculty of Psychology came together in the ‘Together for Democracy’ initiative to help strengthen democratic values. We see ourselves as an interdisciplinary community that uses openness and critical reflection to help defend the principles of democracy and encourage the further development of democratic structures.
What psychology can contribute to democracy
Psychology investigates how people think, feel, perceive and act — and what influences them internally (e.g. in the brain) or through their environment (e.g. society). Psychology can help us to understand:
- How we absorb and process information
- ... and why it is sometimes difficult to distinguish facts from opinions or false information
- How our perception influences our judgement
- How prejudices arise and how we can counteract them
- How work in organisations should be designed to promote democratic thinking and action
- The psychological consequences of insecurity or marginalisation - and what helps us to deal with them
- What blind spots there are in our own discipline and how we can scrutinise them in the interests of a democratic society.
Relevant information and literature
Maja Adena, Steffen Huck (2020) Support for a right-wing populist party and subjective well-being: Experimental and survey evidence from Germany
Hans Böckler Stiftung (2024) Demokratie braucht gute Arbeit
Ingrid Brodnik (2025) Einspruch - Verschwörungsmythen und Fake News kontern
Thomas H. Costello, Gordon Pennycook, David R. Rand (2024) Durably reducing conspiracy beliefs through dialogues with AI
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPS) (2024) Stellungnahme zum Demokratiefördergesetz
Isabelle Ferreras et al: Democatizing work
Joannes Jacobsen Revisiting the Modernization Hypothesis: Longevity and Democracy
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (2024) Paying Off Populism: EU Regional Policy Decreases Populist Support
Stephan Lewandowsky, Sander von der Linden. Countering Misinformation and Fake News Through Inoculation and Prebunking
Philipp Manow, Hanno Schwander (2022) Eine differenzierte Erklärung für den Erfolg der AfD in West- und Ostdeutschland
Maria Pesthy, Matthias Mader (2020) Why Is the AfD so Successful in Eastern Germany? An Analysis of the Ideational Foundations of the AfD Vote in the 2017 Federal Election
Karl Poppers "Toleranz-Paradox": keine Toleranz für Intoleranz (1945, 2023) Video
Christina Schütteler, Thomas Slotta (2023) Diskriminierungssensible Psychotherapie und Beratung.
Petter Törnberg et al (2025) When Do Parties Lie? Misinformation and Radical-Right Populism Across 26 Countries
Ulrich Wagner, Rolf van Dick, Andreas Zick (2015) Sozialpsychologische Analysen und Erklärungen von Fremdenfeindlichkeit in Deutschland
Harald Welzer (2009) Täter - wie aus ganz normalen Menschen Massenmörder werden
Chronology
26.6.2024 Founding meeting
13.11.2024 Recognition as an official initiative at the Faculty of Psychology Council meeting