Psychoanalytic Social Psychology and Social Psychiatry
IPU Berlin
Alt-Moabit 91A, 2nd Floor, Room 2.04
10555 Berlin
E-Mail: phil.langer(at)ipu-berlin.de
At the centre of my teaching is the reflective mediation of the paradigmatic way of thinking and research of a critical social psychology and a social psychologically informed view of the discourses and professional practices of social psychiatry. As part of the social sciences, social psychology and social psychiatry derive their particular strength from their view of the social localisation and interconnectedness of subjects, their experiences and actions, their diverse social disciplining and experiences of suffering, but also their social agency and the opportunities for their emancipation. Understood in this way, it is about the development of a systematic inter- and transdisciplinary perspective on the always conflictual relationship between subject and society as a subject-related contribution to understanding the necessity and conditions for success as well as the critical-reflexive accompaniment of social and political change.
At the IPU, I am involved in teaching on several degree programmes, including:
Through interactive formats, the invitation of guest speakers, excursions beyond the university framework and reference to my own research, I try to keep the teaching lively and contribute to what Klaus Heinrich (1987) once defined - as a necessity in light of a sharp diagnosis of its increasing weakening - as the eroticisation of the relationship between students and the institution of the university.
In recent years, I have mainly been involved in research into the psychosocial dynamics of collective violence. Among other things, this has involved externally funded research projects that have focussed on experiences of violence in conflict and war zones in an empirically qualitative manner:
Current research projects:
Completed projects (selection):
Dear students,
My inbox is often like the overcrowded U8 at rush hour – and your concerns run the risk of getting lost among all the other emails. To ensure that your inquiries can be answered more quickly and in a more structured way, I kindly ask you to send emails only to our team inbox from now on: sozpsy(at)ipu-berlin.de.
We will make sure to answer you within three business days.
There is one exception: Please send internship requests for the Bachelor's program directly to praktikum.bachelor(at)ipu-berlin.de.
Thank you for your cooperation!
My office hours (in person at the IPU or via Zoom) in the summer semester 2025: 8 May 2025 and 5 June 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. each time. Please register at sozpsy(at)ipu-berlin.de with a note about your concern and whether you would like to meet at the IPU or via Zoom.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to accept any new theses until the end of the summer semester of 2025. If you would like to write your final thesis with me in or after the winter semester of 2025/26, please read the guidelines for developing and writing a Master's thesis at my professorship and, in light of these, check whether your project idea is in good hands with me.
Recent publications include:
Here you find the programme of events organised by our partners at the KKC in Bochum. Some of the events can be attended via Zoom.