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
Selected Publications
Maier, M. A., & Dechamps, M. C. (2025). Macroscopic Complementary Relation Between Subjective Observations and Objective Measurements of Color. Journal of Anomalistics, 25(1), 15–60. https://doi.org/10.23793/zfa.2025.015
Jakob, M.-J., Dechamps, M. C., & Maier, M. A. (2024). Testing the Effects of Personality-Related Beliefs on Micro-PK. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 4(1), 34–59. https://doi.org/10.31156/jaex.23809
Jakob, M.-J., Dechamps, M. C., & Maier, M. A. (2024). Response to Comment on Jakob, Dechamps, & Maier: How to Read a Paper. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 4(1), 79–87. https://doi.org/10.31156/jaex.25782
Maier, M. A., Dechamps, M. C., & Rabeyron, T. (2022). Quantum Measurement as Pragmatic Information Transfer: Observer Effects on (S)objective Reality Formation. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 2(1), 16–48. https://doi.org/10.31156/jaex.23535
Maier, M. A.*, & Dechamps, M. C.* (2022). A Pre-Registered Test of a Correlational Micro-PK Effect: Efforts to Learn from a Failure to Replicate. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 36(2), 251-263. https://doi.org/10.31275/20222235
*Contributed equally
Dechamps, M. C.*, Maier, M. A.*, Pflitsch, M., & Duggan, M. (2021). Observer Dependent Biases of Quantum Randomness: Effect Stability and Replicability. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 1(1-2).