Profile
Abstract
Prof. Dr. phil. Oliver Decker, Director of the Else-Frenkel-Brunswik-Institut and Director of the Centre for the Study of Right Wing Extremism and Democracy, both University Leipzig. Professor for Social Psychology at the Sigmund Freud University Berlin. Since 2002 responsible for the Leipzig-Studies on Authoritarianism in Germany (LAS; until 2018 Leipzig Centre-Studies), since 2005 for the conference series "Critical Theory - Psychoanalytical Practise". Fellow, Birkbeck College, London (2012), interim Professor for Social Psychology (2010-2013, Siegen), Visiting Professor, School of Visual Arts, New York (2015) and Institute for Sociology, Vienna (2019). Co-Speaker of the Graduate School "Right Wing Populism" (with G. Hentges) und Co-Head of the Berlin-Monitor (with G. Pickel and K. Reimer-Gordinskaya). Selected books: "Social Psychology and Social Theory" (2018, Springer), "Authoritarian Dynamics" (2020, Psychosozial), Berlin-Monitor (2019, ZuKlampen). Group-Analyst (in training).
Professional career
- since 10/2020
Professor for Social Psychology and intercultural practice, Sigmund-Freud-University, Berlin - since 09/2020
Director, Else-Frenkel-Brunswik-Instituts for Democracy Research, University Leipzig - since 01/2015
Member of the Faculty, Head of the Reseach-Unit Societal Change and Modern Medicine, Dept. Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical College Leipzig - since 10/2013
Director of the Center for the Study of Right-Wing Extremism and Democracy, Universität Leipzig - 10/2010 - 09/2013
Visiting Professor for Social and Organizational Psychology, University Siegen - since 07/2010
Reader, Institute of Sociology, University of Hannover - 10/1997 - 10/2010
Researcher (initially PhD-Position, until 2003 Post-Doc), Dept. of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Leipzig - 01/1995 - 09/1997
Student Research Assistant, Quality Management of Psychosomatic General Care, University Medical College, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Berlin - 01/1994 - 12/1994
Student Assistance in Teaching (Research Methods), Psychology Study Program, Freie Universität Berlin
Education
- 07/2010 - 08/2010
Habilitation (Postdoctoral Lecture Qualification), Institute of Sociology, University of Hannover - 07/2003 - 08/2003
Dr. phil. (PhD), Faculty of Human Sciences, University Kassel - 10/1991 - 09/1997
Diploma, Psychology, Free University of Berlin
In my social psychological research I am currently pursuing three central themes. Firstly, I am investigating the development of political, especially right-wing extremist attitudes and authoritarian orientations. An Example is my research program “Leipzig-Studies on Authoritarianism in Germany“ (also known as the “Centre Studies“), which survey the right-wing extremist attitudes in Germany in a two-year rhythm. This series of studies has been running since 2002. It is carried out empirically with a mixed-method design, which includes representative questionnaire surveys and qualitative methods to support the theoretical work. Secondly, I am focussing on transformative processes and social-political dynamics, especially with regard to current trends of participatpion. In several projects I seek to comprehend empirically and theoretically the condition, psychodynamics and contradictions of political participation. I am also a founding member of the “Research Institute Social Cohesion,” which seeks to work out the conditions of democratic cooperation. Thirdly the techniques of shapping the human body by modern medicine is in my focus. In my understanding of medical treatment, like organ transplantation, deep brain stimulation but also cosmetic surgery and the treatment of adipositas is a societal practice with strong effects on our experiences of the body and subjectivity. All three themes are associated by the gain understanding modern societies and its antagonism.
- show detailsRacism putting at risk social cohesion in the social and institutional sectorPickel, GertDuration: 10/2021 – 12/2024Funded by: andere BundesministerienInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)
- show detailsResentment and racism in executive serviceDecker, OliverDuration: 10/2021 – 12/2024Funded by: andere BundesministerienInvolved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)
- show detailsGeschlechterdemokratie im ErzgebirgeDecker, OliverDuration: 09/2020 – 07/2024Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)
- show detailsRadikaler Islam vs. Radikaler Anti-Islam (RIRA)Decker, OliverDuration: 09/2020 – 08/2024Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)
- show detailsZivilgesellschaft in Wurzen: Aufbruch auf umstrittenem Terrain?Decker, OliverDuration: 09/2020 – 09/2024Involved organisational units of Leipzig University: Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)
- show detailsDecker, O.; Kalkstein, F.; Kiess, J.Demokratie in SachsenLeipzig: Edition Überland. 2022.ISBN: 978-3-948049-17-1
- show detailsDecker, O.; Kiess, J.; Brähler, E.Escape into AuthoritariansimNew York: Routledge. 2022.ISBN: 978-1-03-210834-6
- show detailsDecker, O.; Kalkstein, F.; Kiess, J. (Eds.)Demokratie in Sachsen. Das Jahrbuch des Else-Frenkel-Brunswik-Instituts für 2021.Else-Frenkel-Brunswik-Institut, Universität LeipzigLeipzig: Edition Überland. 2022.ISBN: 978-3-948049-17-1
- show detailsPetrowski, K.; Bührer, S.; Strauß, B.; Decker, O.; Brähler, E.Examining air pollution (PM10), mental health and well-being in a representative German sample.Nature Scientific Reports . 2021. 11 (1).
I can rely on many years of teaching experience. In the beginning, I taught Medical Sociology, which is how I developed my didactic skills: in 2007, these efforts were recognized with the “Prize for Young Teachers” from the German Association for Medical Education (GMA). Following my habilitation at the Institute of Sociology at Leibniz University Hannover in 2010, the focus of my teaching has shifted to classical and Political Sociology as well as Sociological Social Psychology. In this context, I published the two-volume textbook Sozialpsychologie und Sozialtheorie (Springer VS, 2018), which outlines the wide range of the field.
To help promote young scientists in the PhD-phase, I run, together with Professor Gudrun Hentges, the graduate school “Right-Wing Populism – Authoritarian Developments, Right-wing Extremist Discourses and Democratic Resonances.” In addition, I include young scientists in my projects in order to pass on the practical knowledge indispensable for empirical research. Supporting women and people with an immigrant background has always been a high priority.
Research fields
Right-wing extremism, Society, Psychology, Social psychology
Specializations
Democracy
authoritarianism
social conflicts
psychoanalysis/group analysis
Contact for media inquiries
Fax: +49 341 97 - 18809