Our Mission and Vision

COM investigates how developmental and motivational processes shape mental well-being and behavior. From childhood to adulthood, we focus on key transitions within families, schools, work, and society. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to translate our insights into sustainable real-world applications.

🌱 Focus on growth and motivation
COM studies fundamental processes that contribute to psychosocial growth, adaptation, and well-being. We focus on themes such as identity development, emotion regulation, personality, the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and the quality of motivation. These processes are examined both at a general level and within specific life domains, such as parenting and education.

🧩 Interaction with environments and groups
In addition to promoting growth and well-being, we also investigate processes that increase vulnerability and the risk of mental health problems. To do so, we collect data from both representative samples and more vulnerable groups. We view human development as continuously interacting with social environmental factors, ranging from micro-contexts (parents, peers, teachers), to meso-contexts (e.g., interactions between parents and peers), and macro-contexts (such as digital media and cultural influences). Historical trends and societal changes (the chrono-context) are also taken into account.

🔬 A broad methodological approach
Research within COM spans the entire lifespan, with particular attention to adolescence and young adulthood. Our studies draw on multiple theoretical frameworks, with Self-Determination Theory as a central perspective, in dialogue with other theories. Methodologically, we adopt a broad approach: longitudinal designs with repeated measurements, diary and experience sampling studies, as well as laboratory and field experiments and intervention studies. We also rely on multi-informant and multi-method approaches, including observations, objective recordings, and physiological measures such as stress and sleep.

💡 From science to practice
Our goal is to translate fundamental research into socially relevant insights and applications. We aim to strengthen motivation, engagement, resilience, and psychological well-being among children, adolescents, and (young) adults across various contexts such as family, school, and leisure. In doing so, we strive for sustainable and structural changes that support the growth of both individuals and their socialization agents. COM thus stands for excellence in research and practice, driven by a strong belief in people’s potential for growth.