Bjørn Ribers

Research areas

My research is focused on professional ethics and the study of welfare professions from an ethico-political perspective. I am particularly interested in psycho-societal perspectives on the Nordic welfare professions. Based on research in the higher education of welfare professionals I analyze how organizations, innovative learning and interdisciplinary interaction can support professional development and create resilience. 

From the perspective of qualitative psychology I specialize in working with ethical dilemmas, particularly how welfare professionals experience existential meaning, ethical pressure, moral distress and compassion fatigue. My subsequent research perspective is on: a) ethical perception and discernment; b) psychosocial support; c) professional integrity, professional identity, agency and autonomy; and d) ethical and values-based leadership. 

I am affiliated with the Centre for Philosophy and Ethics of Healthcare, the Centre for Primary and Lower Secondary Education Research, and the research programme Pedagogy, Culture and Leadership at University of Sourthern Denmark. I am am member of the International Research Group for Psycho-Societal Analysis and a founding member of the Nordic Psychosocial Network.