PhD student in social psychology: Applying the theory of varieties of interdependence to encourage sustainable environmental choices M/F

Job Description

Thesis Subject

- Description of the PhD project

The project is funded and carried out as part of the ANR project CultureMatching (2026–2030).

One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which have been adopted by the EU, is to 'ensure sustainable consumption and production' (Goal 12), which is often closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goal 'climate action' (Goal 13). As these goals can only be achieved if the whole world works towards them simultaneously, researchers and practitioners working to promote these goals must take cultural contexts into account when seeking to encourage sustainable consumption. The proposed research aims to contribute to the achievement of these Sustainable Development Goals by identifying culturally relevant messages ('frames') that encourage people to engage in sustainable actions that help combat climate change.
The project lies at the intersection of psychology and sustainable development (Swim et al., 2009). Research in this field has highlighted several interventions likely to promote sustainable behaviours, but none explicitly takes into account the broader cultural context in which these behaviours are embedded. However, extensive research in cultural psychology shows that culture shapes not only individuals' attitudes, values and beliefs, but also fundamental psychological processes, including cognition, emotions and motivation (Markus & Kitayama, 1991, 2003).
Building on existing theories in cultural psychology, some recent research indicates that the effectiveness of persuasive messages varies across cultures. More specifically, when messages aimed at encouraging sustainable behaviours align with culturally valued concepts, they prove to be more effective. In the CultureMatching project, we will seek to encourage sustainable behaviours within groups with different cultural profiles by using messages that fit within the dominant cultural framework. Our general hypothesis is that messages formulated to align with fundamental cultural concepts will be more effective than those that do not.
In addition to building on previous research into how culture is taken into account, we will also broaden the range of sustainable behaviours targeted. The planned work will focus on two different behaviours: 1/ air travel and offsetting its environmental impact by choosing sustainable fuel, and 2/ choosing to eat more plant-based foods. Through a series of studies targeting each of these behaviours (two pilot studies and one main study), we will develop and test five different messages (and a control message) aimed at encouraging sustainable behaviours, drawing on the theory of varieties of interdependence (Kitayama et al., 2022). The studies will be conducted with representative samples across five major regions of the world (the West, East Asia, South Asia, West Asia/North Africa, and Latin America).

- Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be required to carry out experimental research, which involves:
o Conducting a systematic literature review on interdependence and behavioural change, particularly in the environmental field
o Developing experimental protocols for online studies
o Preparing applications for the validation of protocols by ethics committees and preparing pre-registrations
o Adapting these protocols to the national contexts of the various countries included in each study and verifying translations
o Conducting experiments with populations in several different countries
o Analysing quantitative data
o Writing scientific articles
o Deliver scientific presentations at national and international conferences
o Attend regular research meetings with the consortium teams
o Work with international collaborators
o Participate in activities at the affiliated laboratory (seminars, general meetings, etc.)

- Profile of the ideal candidate:
o Qualifications : The candidate must hold a Master's degree in psychology, behavioural sciences or cognitive sciences (five years of higher education)

- Required skills:
o . Scientific curiosity, adaptability and the ability to work as part of a team will be significant assets, given that the thesis topic will form part of a wider project led by an international team.
o Strong motivation and a rigorous approach to experimental research are expected, as well as an interest in developing experimental designs and protocols and analysing quantitative data.
o Good written and oral communication skills are essential, as is a strong aptitude for working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
o A very good level of spoken and written English will be required.

Your Work Environment

- Work context:
o The PhD student will join the "Cognition, Langues, Language et Ergonomie" Laboratory (CLLE, UMR 5263) in Toulouse (Toulouse Jean Jaurès University), where they will be based.
The CLLE laboratory (Cognition, Languages, Language, Ergonomics) is a CNRS UMR created in January 2007 and mainly hosted on the Toulouse Jean Jaurès University site. It is a multidisciplinary research unit relating to Cognitive Sciences: the work carried out there covers the fields, more or less broad in scope, of linguistics, psychology, computer science, philosophy, education and neuroscience. The laboratory, made up of 205 members, is structured into 3 teams each composed of an average of 25 Teachers-Researchers and Researchers:
• “Languages and language” team, working more particularly on themes relating to linguistics;
• “Language and cognitive processes” team, focused on the interdisciplinarity between language and psychology;
• “Cognition in complex situations” team, working more particularly on themes of social and cognitive psychology.
The laboratory is also developing transversal research axes between these teams.
It also welcomes many doctoral and post-doctoral students.
CLLE is a CNRS UMR with the CCU experimental platform.

They will be affiliated with the Doctoral School " Comportement, Langage, Education, Socialisation, Cognition" (CLESCO).
The PhD student will undertake their thesis under the supervision of Prof. Maja BECKER (CLLE) and Dr Magali CLOBERT (LPCN, Laboratoire de Psychologie Caen Normandie). The research will be carried out with the support of an international consortium of researchers and in close collaboration with Prof. Krishna SAVANI (HK Polytechnic University, HK).
The PhD student will benefit from a stimulating environment within a multidisciplinary laboratory in the field of Cognitive Sciences, as well as at the LPCN and within the project's international consortium.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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