Joscha Kärtner

Joscha Kärtner has been Full Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Münster, Germany, since 2012, where he heads the Developmental Psychology Unit. He previously served as temporary professor at the Universities of Münster and Göttingen, and as post-doctoral researcher at the Lower-Saxonian Institute of Infant Education and Development (nifbe) in Osnabrück.

Education

• Habilitation (PD), University of Osnabrück, 2012
• Dr. rer. nat., University of Osnabrück, 2008
• Diploma in Psychology, University of Jena, 2003
• Master of Arts in Sociology, University of Essex, UK, 2000

Research Interests

Kärtner’s research integrates developmental and cross-cultural psychology to investigate intuitive parenting, early mother- and father-infant interaction, and the emergence of prosocial and cooperative behaviour across diverse cultural settings. He studies socio-cognitive and socio-emotional development from infancy through early childhood, focusing on early self-concept, intentionality, and culture-sensitive interventions. His work further explores how cultural ethnotheories shape parenting practices and how these practices in turn influence children’s developmental trajectories.

Publication Trends

Across more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, Kärtner has advanced a culturally grounded developmental science. Recent papers (2022-2025) emphasise cross-cultural comparisons of visual attention socialisation, prosocial motivation, parent-child mealtime conversations, and evaluation of violence-prevention programmes in India and Germany. A clear trend is the integration of observational micro-analytic work with intervention evaluation, bridging basic research and applied practice.

Scientific Awards & Recognition

While no specific prizes are listed in the supplied text, Kärtner’s extensive publication record in top-tier journals (Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Developmental Science) and invitations to contribute to major handbooks and monographs attest to significant scholarly recognition.

Teaching & Mentoring

At the University of Münster he lectures on developmental psychology (BSc) and applied developmental psychology & intervention (MSc), and offers seminars on socio-cognitive development, prosocial behaviour, moral development, and cross-cultural methodologies. He supervises doctoral and post-doctoral researchers in the Developmental Psychology Unit.

Laboratory & Teams

Kärtner directs the Developmental Psychology Unit (Room 210/IV, Fliednerstraße 21, 48149 Münster). The unit comprises research associates, doctoral researchers, and student assistants working on projects spanning prosociality & conflict, emotional development, social contingency, and culture & development.