Registration ends 07.4.2026 at 23:59 h

People need to understand and cope with global sustainability challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss or nuclear weapons. Those are often caused by individuals, by small(er) population subgroups, or political and economic elites. In face of these challenges: Does individual agency still play a role? In fact, what is individual agency and how can individual agency be fostered? Answering this question is crucial for understanding – and strengthening– the role of citizens in democratic systems.

We will seek answers through the lens of psychology and behavioral sciences. This includes to, first, define and examine the role of agency for sustainable behavior broadly, in classic models of human behavior from psychology (e.g., Bandura, 2006; Lazarus & Folkman, 1986). We will also discuss the role of the individual as a contributor to sustainability challenges such climate change, as discussed in i-frame/s-frame/c-frame approaches (van Boven & Loewenstein, 2011).

With the aim of developing a toolbox with strategies for increasing individual agency in face of global sustainability challenges, we will examine the following topics:

1) Subjective efficiency and agency BELIEFS: What they are, how they manifest, how they are embedded into social and non-social contexts and how they can be fostered.
We will briefly divert into the applied science of science communication that addresses people’s (in)accurate beliefs and knowledge, and interventions for increasing belief accuracy about sustainability, with the aim to support people's evidence-based decisions (and thus agency) about global challenges.

2) Cognitive INFERENCES about sustainability, and how simple inferential strategies such as rules of thumb or decision trees can help them making quick, but still good-enough decisions that foster sustainability. This will include a practical research exercise.
We will briefly divert into the science of misinformation; and how boosting people's ability to recognise misinformation can help them navigating through complex information environments.

3) Sustainable BEHAVIORS, and strategies for changing behaviours. This includes, first, interventions for increasing agency. This includes, second, understanding when and how people can learn to change their habits and behaviours in line with their values (and overcome the attitude-behaviour gap), using validated strategies from motivation psychology (implementation intentions, mental contrasting, self-nudging, goal setting, or automatisation). Third (upon feedback from a previous student cohort), we will aim at a better understanding of emotions related to global challenges, and when and how they interact with perceived control or efficacy beliefs with regard to sustainable behavior, including activism.

The lecture ends with an outlook on the role of agency in theories of collective change towards sustainability more broadly, such as the Social-Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action (SIMPEA).

Please note that this course was yet taught once for SEAL students only. We will discuss how to adapt it to needs and interests of the interdisciplinary 2026 cohort (sustainability sciences/ psychology). All students are welcome to bring ideas to the first session.

The aim of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of (a) theoretical underpinnings of agency (b) strategies for increasing agency derived from basic and applied psychological research (c) the role of individuals as agents in democratic systems.

Further information on teaching evaluation: https://www.leuphana.de/en/teaching/quality-management/feedback-instruments.html