Research Statement

Gerontopsychology as the psychology of adult development and aging aims at describing and explaining changes in the structures and processes that influence individuals' experience and behavior across the lifespan into very old age. To understand human lifespan development, improving our understanding of the development of social, emotional, cognitive, and personality resources and how they interact with environmental conditions is essential.

Gerontopsychological research uses the whole range of psychological research methods ranging from surveys and questionnaires over longitudinal studies of change over several years to the combination of experimental, psychometric, cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.

Research on developmental processes in old age include applied perspectives and supports the development of interventions, evaluation studies, and prevention. The research is the basis for applications and professional activities in the area of gerontopsychology and gerontology.

The gerontopsychology program collaborates closely with the University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging and the Center for Gerontology of the University of Zurich as well as national and international experts from different disciplines in teaching and research.