How do social media shape our self-perception? What role does digital communication play in political conflict? And how do media influence our relationships, emotions, and social life? These and many other questions are at the center of the 14th Conference of the Media Psychology Division of the German Psychological Society (DGPs), held from September 10 to 12, 2025, at the Duisburg campus of the University of Duisburg-Essen.
This year, CAIS – represented by scientific coordinator Dr. Josephine B. Schmitt – is co-organizing the conference in close cooperation with the team of Prof. Dr. German Neubaum (University of Duisburg-Essen).
Conference Theme: “Changing Media Environments as Facilitators for Learning”
The conference serves as a central forum for national and international scholars to present and discuss current research findings, theoretical developments, and practical applications in the field of media psychology. The 2025 theme, “Changing Media Environments as Facilitators for Learning?”, focuses on theoretical and empirical work examining how digital technologies may facilitate – or hinder – learning processes.
Contributions from CAIS Researchers
The conference kicks off on Wednesday, September 10, with a pre-conference including a workshop and informal get-together. The main scientific program will follow on Thursday and Friday, featuring talks, poster sessions, and two keynotes.
CAIS is contributing to the program with two presentations:
- Thursday, September 11, 4:15 PM:
Dr. Josephine B. Schmitt, together with Jana Dreston and Prof. Dr. German Neubaum (both University of Duisburg-Essen), will present findings from a two-wave study on the 2024 U.S. election. Their research explores whether and how voting – especially in the context of political communication on social media – affects individuals’ self-perception. Their hypothesis: When people publicly share their act of voting, it may strengthen democratic self-concepts. This suggests that social media communication could play a key role in reinforcing a self-sustaining democratic spiral.
Have a look at their session in the program: https://www.conftool.net/mediapsych2025/index.php?page=browseSessions&form_session=54 - Thursday, September 11, 4:15 PM:
Prof. Johannes Breuer is participating as Chair and Speaker on the topic “Why entertainment research still matters” in the session “Novel Views on Established Concepts (Position Paper).”
Have a look at his session in the program: https://www.conftool.net/mediapsych2025/index.php?page=browseSessions&form_session=24#paperID227
- Friday, September 12, 10:45–11:30 AM:
Dr. Mitra Shamsi, guest researcher at CAIS, will give a keynote titled: “Digital Visibility and Embodied Vulnerability: Feminist Activism in Authoritarian Contexts.”
The full program is available online:
https://www.uni-due.de/media-psych-2025/program
Further information on the conference:
https://www.uni-due.de/media-psych-2025/