Dr Maria Zwicker

Tagline:Sustainability & Behaviour Change Expert

Heidelberg, Germany

About Me

I am a social psychologist with a PhD in sustainability and behaviour change and international experience researching how to encourage more sustainable behaviour. After a career break travelling and strengthening my core values, I am now seeking work in the field of sustainable transition, where I can promote the adoption of sustainable behaviours, support projects aimed at developing sustainable infrastructure, and actively engage in addressing, researching, and communicating climate change and its impacts. Nature is very important to me, driving my desire to work in sustainability. On the weekends you can find me hiking with my rescue dog, Pablo.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy
from: 2018, until: 2023
Field of study:Social and Environmental PsychologySchool:University of AmsterdamLocation:Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
Research topic: Consumer attitudes and behaviour towards climate change
Dissertation title: “The Complexity of Consumer Attitudes Towards Sustainable Alternatives”
Supervisors: Prof. dr. Frenk van Harreveld, dr. Cameron Brick

3 months research visit at the University of Bern
Research Master (cum laude)
from: 2016, until: 2018
Field of study:Social PsychologySchool:Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamLocation:Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bachelor of Science (1st class)
from: 2012, until: 2016
Field of study:PsychologySchool:University of StirlingLocation:Stirling, United Kingdom
Description
Semester Study Abroad at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
International Baccalaureate
from: 2010, until: 2012
Field of study:International Baccalaureate School:Gower College SwanseaLocation:Swansea, United Kingdom

Skills

Data analysis & visualisation (R, SPSS, Jamovi)
Project Management
Proactive Leadership
Design & Execute Research Projects
Written & Oral Communication to wide range of audiences
Microsoft Office & Adobe Lightroom
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
‘Translating’ Scientific Insights
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Fluent languages: English, German, Dutch

Publications

Intentions to purchase a sustainable mobile phone by network analysis in four European countries
Journal ArticlePublisher:Sustainable Production and ConsumptionDate:2023
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerFrenk van HarreveldJanis H. ZickfeldCameron Brick
DOI
Stability of green default adherence in a costly moment of change
DocumentPublisher:Center for Open ScienceDate:2023
Authors:
Daniel BregullaMaria Victoria ZwickerSebastian Berger
DOI
Consumer attitudes and willingness to pay for novel bio-based products using hypothetical bottle choice
Journal ArticlePublisher:Sustainable Production and ConsumptionDate:2023
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerCameron BrickGert-Jan M. GruterFrenk van Harreveld
DOI
Organizations can make a real impact on sustainable development
Journal ArticlePublisher:One EarthDate:2022
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerAnna BosshardCameron Brick
DOI
(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastics
Journal ArticlePublisher:SustainabilityDate:2021
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerCameron BrickGert-Jan M. GruterFrenk van Harreveld
DOI
When and for Whom Implicit Partner Evaluations Predict Forgiveness
Journal ArticlePublisher:Social Psychological and Personality ScienceDate:2020
Authors:
Ruddy FaureFrancesca RighettiGrace LarsonMaria Fernanda CuellarAntonis KoutsoumpisMaria ZwickerWilhelm Hofmann
DOI
Disgust, Anger, and Aggression: Further Tests of the Equivalence of Moral Emotions
Journal ArticlePublisher:Collabra: PsychologyDate:2020
Authors:
Joshua M. TyburCatherine MolhoBegum CakmakTerence Dores CruzGaurav Deep SinghMaria Zwicker
DOI
Persistent beliefs: Political extremism predicts ideological stability over time
Journal ArticlePublisher:Group Processes & Intergroup RelationsDate:2020
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerJan-Willem van ProoijenAndré P. M. Krouwel
DOI
Applying an attitude network approach to consumer behaviour towards plastic
Journal ArticlePublisher:Journal of Environmental PsychologyDate:2020
Authors:
Maria V. ZwickerHannah U. NohlenJonas DalegeGert-Jan M. GruterFrenk van Harreveld
DOI

Research Interests

Climate change
Sustainable behaviour
Behaviour change
Sustainable alternatives
Attitudes
Environmental politics
Interndisciplinary & applied research
Open Science

Contact

zwicker.maria@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariazwicker/

Teachings

Master Thesis supervision
From: 2020, Until: 2022
Organization:University of AmsterdamField:Social Psychology
Bachelor Thesis supervision
From: 2019, Until: 2022
Organization:University of AmsterdmField:Social Psychology
Bachelor Thesis supervision
From: 2019, Until: 2020
Organization:University of AmsterdamField:Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE)
Statistics Teaching
From: 2016, Until: 2016
Organization:University of StirlingField:BSc (hons) and BA (hons) Psychology
Statistics seminar leader
From: 2015, Until: 2016
Organization:University of StirlingField:Statistics seminar leader
Mentoring
From: 2015, Until: 2016
Organization:University of StirlingField:Psychology
STEER mentor
From: 2013, Until: 2016
Organization:University of StirlingField:STEER
Description:
Student Peer Support Scheme that provides students with social, academic and personal support and advice.
English tutor
From: 2012, Until: 2017
Organization:private, GermanyField:English

Honors & Awards

Runner-up IAAP’s Early Career Marathon
date: 2022-10-02
Issuer:International Association of Applied Psychology
First place overall award at IAAP’s Early Career Marathon
date: 2021-10-17
Issuer:International Association of Applied Psychology
U21 Graduate Collaborative Research Award
date: 2019-01-01
Issuer:Universitas 21

Talks

Network Analysis of Intentions to Purchase a Sustainable Mobile Phone in Four European Countries
Date: Mar 2023
Event name: International Conference of Psychological Science .Location: Brussels, Belgium .
Do Consumers Want Sustainability? Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Buy Sustainable Alternatives
Date: Dec 2022
Event name: Changing Business for Good International conference .Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles
Date: Oct 2022
Event name: IAAP’s Early Career Marathon .Location: Online .
Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles
Date: Jun 2022
Event name: the Annual Conference of the Associatie van Sociaal- Psychologische Onderzoekers .Location: Tilburg, the Netherlands .
Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles
Date: Jun 2022
Event name: APA Division 34 Inaugural Online Conference, .Location: Online .
Attitude Networks Applied to Pro-Environmental Behaviour
Date: Feb 2022
Event name: Brownbag .Location: University of Amsterdam .
Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions & Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastics
Date: Dec 2021
Event name: Annual Conference of the Associatie van Sociaal- Psychologische Onderzoekers .Location: Online .
(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic
Date: Oct 2021
Event name: IAAP’s Early Career Marathon .Location: Online .
(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic
Date: Oct 2021
Event name: International Conference of Environmental Psychology .Location: Siracusa, Italy .
(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic
Date: Jun 2021
Event name: Life Improvement Science conference .Location: online .
Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic
Date: May 2021
Event name: Vilm Summer School on Environmental Psychology .Location: Online .
Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic
Date: Apr 2021
Event name: Kurt Lewin Institute Conference .Location: Online .
Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic
Date: Dec 2019
Event name: Annual Conference of the Associatie van Sociaal- Psychologische Onderzoekers .Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands .
How Different Types of Threat Mediate the Relationship Between Ideology and Attitudes Towards Refugees During the European Migrant Crisis
Date: Dec 2018
Event name: Annual Conference of the Associatie van Sociaal- Psychologische Onderzoekers .Location: Nijmegen, The Netherlands .
When guilt brings on positive change: Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic
Date: Sep 219
Event name: International Conference on Environmental Psychology .Location: Plymouth, United Kingdom .

Journal Contributions

Sustainable Production and Consumption
From: 2022
Peer Reviewer
Journal of Environmental Psychology
From: 2021
To: 2022
Peer Reviewer
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management
From: 2021
Peer Reviewer
Behavior Research Methods
From: 2021
Peer Reviewer

contents:

Dr Maria Zwicker

About Me

Education

Doctor of Philosophy

Research Master (cum laude)

Bachelor of Science (1st class)

International Baccalaureate

Skills

Publications

Intentions to purchase a sustainable mobile phone by network analysis in four European countries

Stability of green default adherence in a costly moment of change

Consumer attitudes and willingness to pay for novel bio-based products using hypothetical bottle choice

Organizations can make a real impact on sustainable development

(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastics

When and for Whom Implicit Partner Evaluations Predict Forgiveness

Disgust, Anger, and Aggression: Further Tests of the Equivalence of Moral Emotions

Persistent beliefs: Political extremism predicts ideological stability over time

Applying an attitude network approach to consumer behaviour towards plastic

Research Interests

Contact

Teachings

Master Thesis supervision

Bachelor Thesis supervision

Bachelor Thesis supervision

Statistics Teaching

Statistics seminar leader

Mentoring

STEER mentor

English tutor

Honors & Awards

Runner-up IAAP’s Early Career Marathon

First place overall award at IAAP’s Early Career Marathon

U21 Graduate Collaborative Research Award

Talks

Network Analysis of Intentions to Purchase a Sustainable Mobile Phone in Four European Countries

Do Consumers Want Sustainability? Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Buy Sustainable Alternatives

Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles

Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles

Positive Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Novel Bio-Based Plastic Bottles

Attitude Networks Applied to Pro-Environmental Behaviour

Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions & Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastics

(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic

(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic

(Not) Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons: An Investigation of Consumer Attitudes, Perceptions, and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Based Plastic

Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic

Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic

Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic

How Different Types of Threat Mediate the Relationship Between Ideology and Attitudes Towards Refugees During the European Migrant Crisis

When guilt brings on positive change: Applying a network approach to attitudes in changing consumer behaviour towards plastic

Journal Contributions

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Journal of Environmental Psychology

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management

Behavior Research Methods