Ralf Schwarzer

Ralf Schwarzer (*1943) holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the Freie University of Berlin, Germany. His career has been marked by a dedication to the exploration of diverse psychological dimensions, including stress, coping mechanisms, social support, self-efficacy, well-being, positive psychology, and health behavior change. Notably, he has contributed to the field through the formulation of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), a theoretical framework in the realm of health behavior.3.	Zhang, C.-Q., Zhang, R., Schwarzer, R., & Hagger, M. S. (2019). A meta-analysis of the health action process approach. Health Psychology, 38(7), 623-637. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0000728
==Biography:==
Dr. Schwarzer earned his Ph.D. in 1973 from Kiel, setting the stage for a remarkable journey in academia. His ascendancy to a Professor of Education position in 1974 in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, followed by similar appointments in 1976 in Aachen and, ultimately, as a Professor of Psychology in 1982 at FU Berlin, underscore his expertise and multifaceted contributions.
Embracing the spirit of global scholarship, Dr. Schwarzer embarked on sabbatical leaves, notably at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1985, and later in Los Angeles during 1990-1991. His global footprint extended further as he assumed the role of Visiting Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (1994-1995) and at York University, Canada, in 1998, where he merited the position of Adjunct Professor.
Following his retirement from the Freie University in 2011, Dr. Schwarzer continued to enrich the academic landscape. From 2011 to 2024, he affiliated with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USWPS) in Wroclaw, Poland. Simultaneously, his scholarly pursuits extended to Australia, where from 2014 to 2017, he served as a part-time professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Ralf Schwarzer's prolific career is exemplified by an extensive publication record, surpassing 500 papers, with a primary focus on the dynamic field of health psychology. Beyond his scholarly contributions, he has played a pivotal role in shaping academic discourse by co-founding three influential journals: (a) "Anxiety, Stress, and Coping: An International Journal," (b) "Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie," and (c) "Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being," where he currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief.
==Honors and Awards:==
Dr. Schwarzer's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards. In 1995, he was honored with the John F. Diefenbaker Research Award by the Canada Council. The year 1999 saw him receiving the Career Contribution Award from the Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR). In 2007, his achievements were celebrated with the German Psychology Award (Deutscher Psychologiepreis). Recognizing his enduring impact on the field, the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) conferred upon him the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions in 2010.
Dr. Schwarzer's influence extends beyond his scholarly pursuits. He has assumed leadership roles in key psychological societies, serving as the Past-President of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR), the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS), and the Health Psychology Division of the International Association for Applied Psychology (IAAP). His commitment to fostering global collaboration was evident in his role as one of the organizers of the International Congress of Psychology (ICP) in Berlin in 2008.
==Health behavior change in a nutshell==
When delving into the realm of behavior change, the initial inquiry revolves around the individual's motivation to achieve a specific behavioral goal. If an individual has not yet formulated an intention to engage in the target behavior, it signals a lack of current motivation, necessitating motivational support. As outlined by the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)1. Schwarzer, R. (2008). Modeling health behavior change: How to predict and modify the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors. Applied Psychology, 57, 1-29. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2007.00325.x, this support encompasses motivational elements like action self-efficacy, positive outcome expectancies (highlighting the benefits of behavior change), and fostering awareness of potential risks associated with non-change.
Conversely, for those who have already established an intention to adopt the desired behavior, motivation is already present. In such cases, the focus shifts from motivational to behavioral support, aiming to address obstacles hindering the translation of intentions into action. This form of support encompasses volitional constructs such as coping self-efficacy, meticulous planning, and self-monitoring.
Furthermore, in instances where behavior faces a setback, leading to a relapse into prior patterns, instilling optimistic self-beliefs becomes crucial for a successful re-initiation of action. Strategies like building recovery self-efficacy emerge as effective tools in these circumstances.
In essence, understanding the nuanced interplay between motivational and volitional elements offers a more holistic approach to behavior change interventions 2.	Schwarzer, R., & Hamilton, K. (2020). Changing behaviour using the health action process approach. In M. S. Hagger, L. Cameron, K. Hamilton, N. Hankonen, & T. Lintunen (Eds.), Handbook of behavior change (pp. 89-103). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/97811086773180.031. By tailoring support based on the individual's current motivational state and addressing potential barriers, interventions become not only more precise but also more conducive to sustained behavior change.
==Selected Book Publications==
Schwarzer, R. (Ed.). (1990). Gesundheitspsychologie. Ein Lehrbuch [Health psychology: A textbook]. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Schwarzer, R., & Wicklund, R. (Eds.). (1991). Anxiety and self-focused attention. Chur/London: Harwood Academic Publishers.
Schwarzer, R. (1992). Psychologie des Gesundheitsverhaltens [Psychology of health behaviors]. Göttingen, Germany: Hogrefe.
Schwarzer, R. (Ed.). (1992). Self-efficacy: Thought control of action. Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
Schwarzer, R. (1993). Streß, Angst und Handlungsregulation [Stress, anxiety and action regulation] (3rd rev. ed.). Stuttgart, Germany: Kohlhammer.
==Weblinks==
ORCID | http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0069-3826
Twitter | https://twitter.com/schwarzer1
Google Scholar | https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=w2M4elUAAAAJ&hl=en
Homepage| http://my.psyc.de
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ralf-Schwarzer
Freie Universität Berlin: https://www.ewi-psy.fu-berlin.de/psychologie/arbeitsbereiche/gesund/Arbeitsbereich/mitglieder_fu/schwarzer/index.html
==Further Reading==
Luszczynska, A & Schwarzer, R.. (2015). Social-cognitive theory. In M. Conner, & P. Norman (Eds.). Predicting health behaviours (pp.225-251). 3rd edition. Maidenhead, UK: McGraw Hill Open University Press. ISBN-10: 033526378X ISBN-13: 978-0335263783
Schwarzer, R. & Luszczynska, A. (2015). Health Action Process Approach. In M. Conner, & P. Norman (Eds.), Predicting health behaviours (pp.252-278). 3rd edition. Maidenhead, UK: McGraw Hill Open University Press.
Rosas, R., Pimenta, F., Leal, I. &, Schwarzer, R. (2020). FOODLITPRO: Conceptual and empirical development of the food literacy wheel. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 72 (1), 99-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2020.1762547
Lopes, S. L., Ferreira, A. I., Prada, R., & Schwarzer, R. (2023). Social robots as health promoting agents: an application of the Health Action Process Approach to human-robot interaction at the workplace. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2023.103124
Lorbeer, N., Knoll, N., Keller, J., Domke, A., Di Maio S., Armbrecht, G., Börst, H., Martus, P., Ertel, W., & Schwarzer, R. (2023). Enhancing physical activity and reducing symptoms of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial of the PrevOP-Psychological Adherence Program. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 24, 550. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-023-06661-x
Category:1943 births
Category:Professors
Category:German people