Project Goals

It is our goal to gain a better understanding of the socio-emotional relationships between teachers and their students at school. Particularly, we consider the perspectives of both interaction partners, and we examine impact factors, mediating processes, consequences as well as reciprocal changes over time. Aside from drawing up practical implications for improving teacher-student-relationships (e.g., through teacher training), the project aims to contribute to closing research gaps in empirical research in education.

We are interested in answering the following questions:

  • Which individual and social characteristics of teachers and students impact the relationship between the two parties at school?
  • How do teachers' and students' perceptions of their relationships differ? 
  • Which psychological processes play a role in the perception of relationships between the interaction partners?
  • Which academic and socio-emotional consequences emerge from teachers’ and students’ relationship behavior?