Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Tschacher

CV

Born in Hohengehren, Germany, studied psychology at Tübingen University where he received his Ph.D. in 1990. Psychotherapy training in systemic therapy at the Institute of Family Therapy, Munich. Habilitation in psychology and Venia legendi 1996 at University of Bern, Switzerland, professorship in 2002. He currently works at the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. His main interests are in quantitative psychotherapy research, time-series methods and experimental psychopathology, with an emphasis on dynamical systems, complexity science, embodied cognition, and phenomena of cognitive self-organization. Organizer of the series of 'Herbstakademie' conferences on systems theory in psychology and philosophy of mind.

Selected Publications

• Tschacher W, Giersch F, & Friston K (2017). Embodiment and schizophrenia: A review of implications and applications. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 43, 745-753.
• Tschacher W, Ramseyer F, & Koole SL (in press). Sharing the now in the social present: Duration of nonverbal synchrony is linked with personality. Journal of Personality, x, xx-xx. doi: 10.1111/jopy.12298
• Tschacher W, Rees GM & Ramseyer F (2014). Nonverbal synchrony and affect in dyadic interactions. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1323. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01323
• Ramseyer F & Tschacher W (2011). Nonverbal synchrony in psychotherapy: Coordinated body-movement reflects relationship quality and outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 284-295.
• Tschacher W & Haken H (2007). Intentionality in non-equilibrium systems? The functional aspects of self-organized pattern formation. New Ideas in Psychology, 25, 1-15.

FRIAS Project

Embodied communication and its basis in nonverbal synchrony  

Nonverbal synchrony denotes the temporal coordination of motor or physiological behavior of interacting individuals. In empirical projects on this topic we studied nonverbal synchrony in dyadic psychotherapy, in conversations of healthy participants, and in role-plays with schizophrenia patients. We are also active collaborators in a number of projects in various European countries. In the transdisciplinary framework of the FRIAS fellowship (Research Focus “Synchronization in Embodied Interaction”), I intend to work and exchange on these topics: Synchrony and resonance in psychotherapy and psychopathology, specific and common factors of psychotherapy, embodied aesthetics, and generally, the link between mind and body in communication.