Lara Ditrich

Dr. Lara Ditrich is a researcher at the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) in Tübingen, Germany, where she has been affiliated since 2013. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Knowledge Construction Lab, having previously worked in the Social Processes Lab. Since December 2021, she has been a fellow in the Margarete von Wrangell-Programme, funded by the federal Ministry of Science of Baden-Württemberg. Her research focuses on emotions, group dynamics, and collective action, with applications to political and environmental issues.

• PhD in Psychology, Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien / Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (2017)
• Diploma in Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg (2013)

Dr. Ditrich's research centers on social psychological processes, particularly how emotions like fear and anger influence collective action, intergroup conflict, and responses to norm violations. She investigates emotional regulation, sustainability, propaganda effects, and cognitive conflicts in media use. Her work bridges theoretical social psychology with real-world applications in political discourse, climate change, and leadership.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in affective responses to societal challenges—especially climate change and geopolitical crises like the war in Ukraine. She explores how immersive technologies, conspiracy beliefs, and norm deviations shape public attitudes and behaviors. Her studies often employ experimental designs and are published in top journals such as Journal of Applied Social Psychology, European Review of Social Psychology, and PLOS ONE.

• Margarete von Wrangell-Programme Fellow

Dr. Ditrich has been a consistent advisor and collaborator in research projects, though no formal students are listed. She has secured funding through competitive programs and leads research on emotion and collective action. Her teaching at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen includes seminars and lectures on cognitive psychology, economic psychology, and social phenomena in political contexts.

She is actively involved in the Knowledge Construction Lab and has contributed to interdisciplinary projects such as digital access to museum research and cognitive analyses of historical propaganda. Her work often involves collaboration with Prof. Kai Sassenberg and other researchers at IWM and beyond.