Initiative Together for Democracy
Who we are
In June 2024, the “Together for Democracy” initiative was founded at the Faculty of Psychology, consisting of more than twenty professors, staff and students. We want to contribute to social cohesion and the strengthening of democratic values through interdisciplinary exchange, openness and critical reflection.
We are concerned about anti-democratic tendencies and the increasing influence of right-wing populism. That is why we are committed to open-mindedness, human rights and the further development of democratic structures at our university and beyond. We want to disseminate and utilize the research findings of our discipline in research, teaching and the public.
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:
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Perceiving, absorbing and processing information - and why it is sometimes difficult to distinguish facts from opinions or misinformation
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Prejudice and discrimination - how they arise and how they can be counteracted
Group dynamics and social influencing factors - e.g. Why people accept authoritarian structures or stand up for democratic values
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Communication and persuasion strategies - promoting democratic discourse and countering misinformation
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Emotions and decisions - how people form political opinions and react to social challenges
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Factors of political participation - what motivates or prevents people from actively participating in democracy
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Shaping work and leadership in organizations in terms of democratic thinking and action
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Psychological consequences of insecurity and exclusion - and what helps to deal with them
Relevant information and literature
- Link to our collections of information and literature
- TU Dresden-wide initiative for democracy: JoDDiD, John Dewey Research Center for the Didactics of Democracy
- DGPs calls for: stronger integration of psychological expertise in crises management and in fostering resilience and democracy
- OSIP, the Open Science initiative of te Faculty of Psychology at TU Dresden
Chronology
26./27.3.2026: Conference “The Role of Psychology in Social and Political Discourse” at Psychologische Hochschule Berlin. Report.
8.12. 2025, 3 p.m.: End-of-year meeting with a presentation by Markus Scholz (TU Dresden) on the political responsibility of companies/institutions, followed by questions and discussion.
26.6.2024 Founding meeting
13.11.2024 Recognition as an official initiative at the Faculty of Psychology Council meeting