Knowingly causing ourselves harm

People often behave in ways they know will result in negative consequences.

Examples range from behaviors that result in harm to the individual, such addiction, to those that harm humanity, for instance by worsening climate change.To understand the underlying mechanisms, we aim to elucidate (1) how social stress and emotional dysregulation promote (2) and how social interactions protect against behaviors that result in predictable negative consequences, and (3) mechanisms that cause a neglect of adverse outcomes that are distant in time.Our center will encompass research on molecular and cellular mechanisms, translational animal-to-human-models, and dynamic social interactions.

We will use cutting-edge methodology such as gene-editing in animals, nerve cell recording in awake humans, and two-person-neuroimaging.

The center will provide young researchers (recruited for 4-years) with training, state-of-the-art courses, administrative and methodological support, and interactions with leading scientists and with surrounding society.

The latter will be through a one-of-a-kind intersection space for scientists, people with lived experience, and clinical staff.Behaviors that knowingly cause harm to people also affect their families, their social circles, society at a large, and the future of humanity.

To work towards prevention of these behaviors, our center will investigate the mechanisms behind them, as well as protective factors, using a  multilevel translational approach.