Christoph, Gabriela
Congratulations on passing the viva voce on 19 December 2013.
Dissertation topic:
"Differential impact pathways of charitable engagement in adolescence."
Contact address at the University of Würzburg:
Chair of Empirical Educational Research
Campus Hubland-Nord
Oswald-Külpe-Weg 86
D-97074 Würzburg
Phone +49 931 - 31-85563
Fax +49 931 - 31-84624
First supervisor: Prof. Dr Heinz Reinders
Second supervisors:
Prof. Dr Hans Peter Kuhn (Univ. Kassel)
Class in the Graduate School: "Education and Culture"
Doctorate in the Graduate School since WS 2011/2012.
Abstract:
Research in both the German-speaking and US-American fields shows that early engagement is associated with numerous valuable experiences. Engagement is seen as a context that can influence adolescent development in a positive sense, e.g. in an increased willingness to help others or to participate in political or social activities. On the other hand, it is not only the young people themselves who benefit, but also various other stakeholders in the context of which engagement takes place or is organised.
The perspective I have adopted relates to the question of the quantitative effects on young people and the question of how these can be explained. It is assumed that engaged young people who interact with other people during their engagement reflect more on their own social attitudes, show a greater willingness to help other (strangers) and are more willing to participate in society. This correlation can in turn be further specified by the experiences made during the engagement, such as the experience of one's own effectiveness. In summary, the extent to which the socialisation of young people into socially competent individuals can be traced back to the person themselves as well as to relevant (contextual) influences is examined. Voluntary work is seen as an ideal space for positive development guided in this way.
