Expert interview with Dr. Ina Faßbender
Without words: Non-verbal communication in childhood

"Non-verbal signals play an important role in children's communication, especially in the pre-verbal phase, i.e. before they are able to express themselves verbally. It is exciting to observe how well children can communicate with each other out of their own motivation, even if they do not yet know many words. ..."

Read the whole interview here

Study award from the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein for Julia Schmidt

Dr. Julia Schmidt has been awarded the €1,000.00 study prize of the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein for her dissertation "Horse-assisted biography work with people in the second half of life".

The award ceremony was held on October 24, 2023 by the deputy district administrator Ursula Belz.

Here you can find the article about the university award ceremony

Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier awarded with challenge cup

Last winter semester 2022/23, the Psychology Student Council once again awarded the teaching prize under the motto "Best Teaching". Students were able to nominate one lecturer in each of the categories of reliability, interaction, transparency, accessibility, flexibility and requirements as well as an additional category (e.g. variety of methodology, feedback on performance and the inclusion of practical/exercise phases). In addition, the "Newcomer Prize" was awarded for special commitment to seminar design. The aim of this award is to honor in particular those lecturers who have shown particular commitment in the planning and implementation of courses.
After counting the votes of a total of 68 participants, Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier and Dr. Kati Roesmann were chosen as the winners. Prof. Dr. Forstmeier scored particularly well in the categories of reliability, transparency and interaction, while Dr. Roesmann impressed with her friendly approach, good preparation and knowledge transfer as well as the implementation of practical elements. The challenge cup therefore goes to Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier and the prize for special commitment to Dr. Kati Roesmann. Congratulations!

For all those interested, there is a short impressionof thechallenge cupon the FSR website
for a brief impression of the challenge cup and all information regarding the teaching award

Strengthened for the future with animal help

Report in the Westfalenpost about Julia Schmidt from Aue, who is developing a new therapy concept with horse-assisted biography work for adults.

Click here for the article.

"Playdates" for science

In the "Playdate" project at the Department of Psychology at the University of Siegen, scientists are researching how kindergarten children and babies/toddlers interact with each other. ... You can read the article on the study here.

You can find information about the study at: www.pfiffikaeuzchen-siegen.de

Siblings influence development: Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier in an interview with the Siegener Zeitung (29.05.2021)

Click image to enlarge.

Launch of the study "Unfulfilled grandchildren's wish"

The birth rate in Germany is falling. The longing for a grandchild remains. More and more older people have an unfulfilled desire for a grandchild. In this study, M. Sc. Pia Brettschneider investigates whether and how this situation affects the well-being of those affected.

What corona means for the adults of tomorrow: Dr. Ina Faßbender in an interview with the Siegener Zeitung (02.03.2021) - Not everyone has to be on the couch

sz Siegen. The SZ spoke to developmental psychologist Dr. Ina Faßbender from the University of Siegen about what a year of pandemic means for a whole life.

Click image to enlarge.

Siegener Zeitung from 20.01.2021 - University of Siegen project: "You changed?!" study for young people

sz Siegen. There are lots of plans when you're young, and the here and now regularly turns them upside down. A failed class test, a great party, a fight with friends, graduation, a trip, illness, love...

Experience research online

Parents and children can now take part in studies in the field of developmental psychology online via the new"Children create knowledge" platform.

Congratulations on your successful doctorate!

Following the publication of his doctoral thesis on "Intergenerational connections of self-regulation", Lars Göllner from Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier's research group took the final step towards obtaining his doctorate with the successful oral defense of his dissertation on 11 August 2020.

Both the submitted thesis and the performance in the oral defense were rated "magna cum laude" by the reviewers. Congratulations on this extraordinary achievement!

For Lars Göllner, however, the doctorate not only represents the successful conclusion of a stage in his life, but also a new beginning: in addition to working in Prof. Forstmeier's team, he will soon be putting his knowledge and skills to use as a child and adolescent psychotherapist in a psychosomatic clinic. We wish him all the best and every success for all future challenges!

A warm welcome to Dr. Ina Faßbender!

The teaching and research department of Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier is pleased to welcome Dr. Ina Faßbender as a temporary Academic Councillor. Dr. Faßbender most recently worked at the Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, as a research assistant at the Chair of Psychological Methodology, but was already able to gain experience at the University of Siegen thanks to a teaching assignment last winter semester. Her research focuses on learning in a socio-cultural context. This includes migration and cultural identity, facial perception in infants, memory (development) in early childhood, life events and the development of well-being and personality. Prof. Dr. Forstmeier and his team wish Dr. Faßbender a successful start and hope that she will feel at home in her new role at the University of Siegen.

Launch of the online program to accompany a personal life review "Remember, tell, be there" (developed together with Bernhard Strauß, University Hospital Jena).

Start of the foundation-funded intervention study "Horse-assisted biography work with people in the second half of life (PBA-E)". Study director is the scholarship holder Julia Schmidt.

The denomination of the chair was changed to "Developmental Psychology and Clinical Psychology of the Lifespan".

Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier was elected to the new Dean's Office
as Vice Dean for Planning, Structure and Research.

To the press release

In September 2017, the interdisciplinary conference "Biographical Legacies: Transgenerational Perspectives in Biographical Work" took place at the University of Siegen. The conference was organized by Simon Forstmeier and the board of the Professional Association for Biography Work. At the end of an all-round successful conference, many participants probably went home with suggestions for their own field of work, new questions regarding biography work and also a little thoughtful with regard to the consequences and legacies of German history. It was a special quality of the conference to bring together interpretative approaches and concrete practical work. In addition to the focus on "transgenerational legacies of German history", there were two other fields in which biography work plays an important role. The first is work with foster and adoptive children and the second is work with older people (life review). A report
on the conference homepage
provides an insight into the content of the conference.

Start of the DFG-funded project "Life review therapy for Holocaust survivors: A randomized controlled trial" (lead: Simon Forstmeier). Sarah Zimmermann is hired as a research assistant.

Start of the state-funded project "Technological support of attention control at VDU workstations for older people" under the direction of Simon Forstmeier and Rainer Brück (Computer Science). Anna Pracht is hired as a research assistant.

Simon Forstmeier was elected to the Faculty Council for a further term of office.