Academic background: In her PhD project, Christina Moelders investigates the consequences of disrespect in political debates under supervision of Prof. Dr. Erich H. Witte and Prof. Dr. Niels Van Quaquebeke. She tries to figure out under which conditions negativity in politics provokes a backlash effect, harming the attacker himself rather than the target. In the course of planning her studies, she spent two months at the University of Trento, Italy to work with Prof. Maria Paola Paladino.
Christina started her studies with a major in journalism and communication sciences at the University of Hamburg, choosing Public Law as a minor. Having passed the pre-degree examination, she decided in 2004 to major in psychology for her graduate studies. She specialized in Coaching and Training as well as Work and Organizational Psychology. From 2005 to 2010

she collaborated in the economic psychological project “Just Taxes“ at the department of Social Psychology. In 2010, she completed her Master’s thesis on considerate and structured leadership.
Since 2006, Christina is a member of the RespectResearchGroup. In 2011, she succeeded Tilman Eckloff as vice leader. In 2013, she became director of the group.

As a freeelancer, Christina deals with science communication and scientifically sound evaluation programs, e.g. on diversity or leadership. In 2015, she has been working as a psychological counselor in a training program for obese and unemployed people. In the first half of 2015, she was a research associate at the Leuphana University Lüneburg and closely cooperated with large enterprises as well as SMEs on issues of leadership in a digitalized world.

During her studies, Christina was trained to be an instructor for communication psychological interventions by Prof. Dr. Schulz von Thun. Furthermore, she is trained to be a Human Resources Coach.

Artikel in Fachzeitschriften:

Petersen, S., Schroijen, M., Mölders, C., Zenker, S., & Van den Bergh, O. (under review). Processing sensations from inside: The (biasing) role of perceptual organization.

Witte, E. H., Mölders, C., & Van Quaquebeke, N. (2011). Gerechtigkeit durch Sonderbehandlung? Wie Bürger Ausnahmen im Einkommensteuergesetz bewerten [Justice by exceptions? How citizens evaluate exceptions in Income Tax Law]. Wirtschaftspsychologie,  1, 29-42.

Witte, E. H. & Mölders, C. (2010). Gerechtigkeit im Einkommensteuergesetz: Eine wirtschaftspsychologische Perspektive. [Justice in Income Tax Law: An economic-psychological perspective.] Amosinternational, 4(2), 23-32.

Witte, E. H., Mölders, C., & Peytsch, O. (2009). Gerechte Einkommensteuerhöhe: Das Verhältnis von Erwartung, Wunsch und Wirklichkeit. [Just taxation: The relation of expectation, wish, and reality.] Wirtschaftspsychologie, 2, 90-100.

Witte, E. H., & Mölders, C. (2007). Einkommensteuergesetz: Begründung der vorhandenen Ausnahmetatbestände ethisch bedenklich. [Income Tax Law: Questionable justification of exceptions.] Wirtschaftspsychologie, 3, 65-81.

Witte, E. H., van Quaquebeke, N., & Mölders, C. (2005). Mehrwertsteuererhöhung: Eine wirtschaftspsychologische Analyse ihrer Wirkung. [Rise in VAT: An economic-psychological analysis of its effects.] Wirtschaftspsychologie, 3, 115-128.
Buchkapitel:

Witte, E. H. & Mölders, C. (2010). Zur Gerechtigkeit von Ausnahmen im Einkommensteuergesetz [On justice of exceptions in Income Tax Law.]. In: Erich H. Witte & Tobias Gollan (Eds.), Sozialpsychologie und Ökonomie. Lengerich: Pabst.

Praktiker orientierte Vorträge und Publikationen:

Mölders, C. (2013). Was ist Respekt? Vortrag im Rahmen der Kinder-Uni Hamburg, Hamburg, 21. Oktober.

German National Academic Foundation – Ph.D. Fellowship (since 2012)

University of Hamburg – Ph.D. Fellowship (2011-2012)

German National Academic Foundation – Graduate Studies Scholarship (2007-2009)

„All I’m asking is for a little respect…“ Aretha Franklin´s demand for respect sounds modest, like a minimal claim. A little respect – is that overcharged, since everyone should have the right to be respected, to be esteemed in his needs, peculiarities, and ideas? Apparently, all it takes is just a little openness and empathy between conversational partners. But obviously, it’s not as easy as it seems.

How and where did people experience or miss respect? In which situations do they expect to be treated respectfully? “R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Find out, what it means to me…” The word “respect” always reminds me of this invitation. After having spent some time in getting closer to an understanding of respect in working-life, I’m now looking forward to set foot on the field of politics.