Projects per year
Personal profile
Profile
I am a PhD student in psychology at Aarhus University and have previously worked as a clinical psychologist at the Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Aarhus University Hospital. My primary research areas are behavioral psychology and differential psychology (also known as personality psychology), where I investigate individual differences in human needs (specifically reinforcement sensitivity).
The goal of my research is to tailor psychotherapy to better account for individual differences in treatment receptivity - even before treatment begins.
Despite the proven efficacy of behavioral psychology, it remains underutilized in Denmark, both within and outside of academia. In a study by Jacobsen et al. (2012), where psychologists in Denmark could choose more than one approach, only about 12% reported using behavioral methods as one of their primary tools. In comparison, about 54% of psychologists reported using cognitive therapy, and a similiar 54% picked psychodynamic therapy.
I find this incredibly unfortunate, as several of our most effective treatment forms originate from behavioral psychology - or draw heavily on its theories. Notable examples include exposure therapy, behavioral activation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral family therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Even within grief research (e.g., Boelen et al., 2007), studies indicate that starting treatment with behavioral psychological components has better effects than beginning with cognitive components.
Therefore, it is my hope that knowledge of behavioral psychology and its methods can be more widely disseminated in Denmark.
I intend to work towards the following goals:
- Spread knowledge of behavioral psychology in Denmark
- Investigate the effectiveness of various forms of psychotherapy
- Explore individual differences to develop more concrete recommendations for tailoring psychotherapy to individuals
References:
Boelen, P. A., de Keijser, J., van den Hout, M. A., & van den Bout, J. (2007). Treatment of complicated grief: A comparison between cognitive-behavioral therapy and supportive counseling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(2), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.75.2.277
Jacobsen, C. H., Nielsen, J., & Orlinsky, D. E. (2012). Danish psychologists as psychotherapists: Professional, demographic and personal characteristics, and change in theoretical orientations. Nordic Psychology, 64(3), 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/19012276.2012.731311
Teaching
Supervision of master’s theses:
I am currently supervising theses in the autumn of 2024.
I am not available to supervise during the spring of 2025.
Internal courses and lectures:
I independently taught a 15 ECTS course titled ‘A Behavioral Approach to Psychological Theory and Psychotherapy’ at Aarhus University, first in the spring of 2024 and then again in the autumn of 2024.
Additionally, I held a lecture on ‘Friendships and social needs' in Developmental Psychology during the autumn of 2024.
Commissioned
Currently assisting the Danish National Encyclopedia as an editor and author for the behavioral entries.
Keywords
- Behaviour and etology
- Ethology
- Gerontopsychology (psychology of the elderly)
- Personality psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Biological psychology
- Psychology of the senses
- Behavioural needs
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
-
A psychometric exploration of the specificity of reinforcement sensitivity and social needs
Christoffersen, M., Feb 2025, In: Personality and Individual Differences. 233, p. 1-10 10 p., 112847.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Do No Harm: The Impact of Experience on Reducing Adverse Effects of Psychotherapy in Older Clients
Larsen, L. & Christoffersen, M., 2025, (Submitted).Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Working paper › Research
-
Børn og unge i mistrivsel har også ret til behandling med dokumenteret effekt
Christoffersen, M. & Larsen, L., 2024, In: Information.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Contribution to newspaper - Comment/debate
-
Do No Harm: The Impact of Experience on Reducing Adverse Effects of Psychotherapy in Older Clients
Larsen, L. & Christoffersen, M., 1 Dec 2024, p. 118. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Estrangement Between Older Parents and Adult Children: Associations with Mental Health
Nikolajsen, A. T., Larsen, L., Christoffersen, M., Holstein, B. E. & Swane, C., 2024, (Submitted) In: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
-
ISSID 2023: The International Society for the Study of Individual Differences Conference
Christoffersen, M. (Participant)
17 Jul 2023 → 21 Jul 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference
-
Præsentation af en computerudgave af en non-verbal intelligenstest
Christoffersen, M. (Lecturer)
11 May 2023Activity: Presentations, memberships, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
-
The 13th Nordic Public Health Conference
Christoffersen, M. (Participant)
27 Jun 2022 → 30 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference
Courses
-
A Behavioral Approach to Psychological Theory and Psychotherapy
Christoffersen, M. 29/01/2024 → …
Course: Teaching
-