{"id":1170,"date":"2026-01-29T15:48:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:48:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/?page_id=1170"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:50:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T14:50:53","slug":"entwicklung-psychischer-funktionen","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/en\/entwicklung-psychischer-funktionen\/","title":{"rendered":"Development of Psychological Functions \u2013 Project Description"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Processing of Loss Experiences (Bereavement, Separation) in Adults in the Context of Emotion Perception, Emotion Regulation, and Autobiographical Memory Function<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), we aim to investigate which factors contribute to the processing of loss experiences\u2014i.e. bereavement and separations\u2014and which factors hinder this process. In addition, we examine to what extent, for example, the experience and perception of emotions as well as the regulation of emotions influence the processing of loss, or conversely, are weakened by insufficient processing. A further research question concerns the role of memory function in the processing of loss experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coping with a loss\u2014whether due to separation from an existing partnership or the death of a close person\u2014often represents a major challenge, as many different areas are affected simultaneously. This includes dealing with the loss on an emotional as well as a practical level, coping with new situations, and accepting the reality of the loss. Depending on the specific characteristics of the loss and the personal characteristics of the affected individual, very different issues may come to the fore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In psychological research, various methods exist to determine a person\u2019s \u201cprocessing status\u201d with regard to a loss. In the context of attachment research\u2014which has a long tradition within developmental psychology research at FAU\u2014the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is used to assess relationship experiences across different life phases as well as loss experiences and their psychological processing status (state of mind). In recent years, two important main findings related to the attachment status of \u201cUnresolved Loss\u201d have been repeatedly reported: individuals experiencing psychological difficulties or disorders are particularly likely to show an unresolved attachment status in the AAI, and children of parents with an unresolved attachment status tend to experience greater difficulties in attachment and relationship development as well as in psychosocial adjustment. It is therefore important to investigate which psychological domains are particularly relevant for the processing of loss experiences. Previous research suggests that autobiographical memory, emotion perception, and emotion regulation are especially relevant in this context. There is also some evidence that early adverse experiences may hinder the processing of critical life events in adulthood, although findings in this area are inconsistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Current Study<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The study conducted at the Chair of Developmental Psychology is the first international study to simultaneously examine these three domains in adults following a loss experience over an extended period of time, namely one year. In addition, the influence of early adverse experiences on psychological functioning as well as on psychological adjustment following a loss experience is examined, and the extent to which social\/emotional support immediately after the loss facilitates processing is investigated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ongoing study is divided into two parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) Longitudinal study with adults after separation and\/or bereavement<\/strong>
In 2014, scientific monitoring of the processing of this critical life event began with a total of 120 individuals aged approximately 25 to 60 years who had lost a close person through death or separation within the previous four years. Initially, the assumed predictors\u2014namely childhood experiences, emotion regulation ability, emotion perception, and autobiographical memory function\u2014were assessed.
One year later, the three psychological domains at the core of the study (emotion perception, emotion regulation, and autobiographical memory) are currently being reassessed, and the Adult Attachment Interview, an approximately one-hour semi-structured interview on relationship and loss experiences, is being conducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) Cross-sectional study with parents after separation<\/strong>
In order to additionally examine, beyond the context of the aforementioned psychological functions, the associations with parenting and child development following parental separation, a group of parents who have experienced a separation from a partner within the past six years is currently being newly recruited into the study. This group is assessed only once; however, parental role stress as well as children\u2019s strengths and difficulties are additionally measured. This is done to gain new insights into the associations between parents\u2019 processing status regarding their separation experience and their perceived burden in the parenting role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The overarching aim of the study is to integrate the domains identified as relevant for processing and burden experience (both in general and in the parenting role) into counselling and\/or therapeutic interventions supporting individuals through bereavement and separation, and thereby to specifically strengthen those areas that enable successful coping with grief and separation. This is intended to provide optimal support for individuals who experience difficulties in coping with loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Leads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Johanna Behringer
Prof. Dr. Gottfried Spangler<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Johannes Heider
Max Sigl
Kim Stellmann
B.Sc. Christina Deller
B.Sc. Julia Gropper
B.Sc. Svenja Limpert
Sabrina Huth
Franziska Orthuber
B.Sc. Hannah Braun
B.Sc. Carola Walther
B.Sc. Ines Borysiak
B.Sc. Verena Bauernschmitt
Maria Mie\u00dfl
Christine B\u00fchler
B.Sc. Juste Staponkute
Joana Laux
Julia Beese<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Project Team Members<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

B.Sc. Denise Keller
Regina Meinel
B.Sc. Yanitsa Neykova
B.Sc. Elena Postpischil
B.Sc. Carla Schwarz
B.Sc. Pia Semmler
B.Sc. Florian Mirlach<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third-party funding:<\/strong> DFG BE 4781\/3-1 and SP 312\/20-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaborations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Pasco Fearon & Prof. Chris Brewin, University College London, United Kingdom
Prof. Judith Crowell, Harvard University, Boston, USA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Processing of Loss Experiences (Bereavement, Separation) in Adults in the Context of Emotion Perception, Emotion Regulation, and Autobiographical Memory Function In this project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), we aim to investigate which factors contribute to the processing of loss experiences\u2014i.e. bereavement and separations\u2014and which factors hinder this process. In addition, we examine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5473,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_rrze_cache":"enabled","_rrze_multilang_single_locale":"en_GB","_rrze_multilang_single_source":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/?page_id=361","footnotes":""},"page_category":[15],"page_tag":[],"workflow_usergroup":[],"class_list":["post-1170","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","page_category-general","en-GB"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5473"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1170"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1174,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1170\/revisions\/1174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page_category?post=1170"},{"taxonomy":"page_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page_tag?post=1170"},{"taxonomy":"workflow_usergroup","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.entwicklungspsychologie.phil.fau.de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/workflow_usergroup?post=1170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}