Prof. Dr. Markus Maier
Professor
General Psychology II
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Research Interest
- Free will
- Psychophysical subjectivity-objectivity relations
- Mind-matter interaction
- Consciousness research
- AI (motivation and consciousness)
- Generalized quantum theory
Research Profile
Our research is positioned at the interface between subjective and objective aspects of reality and empirically investigates psychophysical phenomena based on a fundamental relationship between these two forms of reality.
Our working group investigates three fundamental phenomena:
- The existence and functioning of free will
- The interaction between mind and matter
- The emergence of consciousness and qualitative experiences (qualia)
Our theoretical basis is generalized quantum theory. This postulates that the interactions mentioned above are based on macroscopic complementarity relationships, which can take the form of non-local entanglement correlations.
In contrast to classical approaches (physicalism, Cartesian substance dualism), we assume that the interrelationship between subjective and objective reality is not causal but acausal in nature—both forms of reality are quasi-quantum-mechanically entangled.
Our research findings suggest that the dual conception of reality (subjective vs. objective) is incomplete. We therefore postulate a third form of reality: sobjective reality—a fusion of subjective and objective aspects that serves as the basis for free will and the emergence of qualia.
Our research is primarily based on scientific, experimental methods [e.g., neurophysiological measurements, behavioral experiments, AI simulations].
This research opens up new perspectives on key questions in motivational and emotional psychology and provides empirical evidence on the validity of various models of reality discussed in the philosophy of mind.
Curriculum Vitae
Recent Publications
Maier, M., Dechamps, M., & Rabeyron, T. (2026). Observer Effects on (s)Objective Reality Formation: A Failed Replication. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 6(2), 187-208. https://doi.org/10.31156/jaex.26236
[Article] [Open Data]
Maier, M., & Dechamps, M. (2026). Acausal psychophysical correlations in a causally closed world? Evidence from (un)confounded erasure paradigms and the limits of physicalist methodology. Journal of Anomalistics, 26(1), 120–145. https://doi.org/10.23793/ZFA.2026.120
[Article] [Open Data]
Maier, M., Vogel, A., & Dechamps, M. (2026). Macroscopic complementarity between subjective and objective food image assessments. Journal of Anomalistics, 26(1), 37–74. https://doi.org/10.23793/ZFA.2026.037
[Article]
Maier, M., Vogel, A., Storch, J., & Dechamps, M. (2026). Non-classical correlation between subjective and objective color observations. Journal of Anomalistics, 26(1), 14–36. https://doi.org/10.23793/ZFA.2026.014
[Article]
Dechamps, M. C., Iovine, C., & Maier, M. (2025). Psi Effects as a Result of Implicit Expectations About Probabilities – Investigating Micro-PK with a Biased Baseline. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 39(3), 279-285. https://doi.org/10.31275/20253571
[Article] [Open Data]
Maier, M. A., & Dechamps, M. C.(2025). Macroscopic Complementary Relation Between Subjective Observations and Objective Measurements of Color. Journal of Anomalistics, 25(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.23793/zfa.2025.015
[Article] [Open Data]