State of Mind is my practice in political psychology and strategy. Through it, I translate psychological science into practical tools, frameworks, and interventions that help people understand and navigate the challenges of political life. The core premise: democracy is not only institutional – it is psychological. Understanding the emotional, cognitive, and social dynamics that shape our democracies are essential to protecting them.
I'm Dr. Miriam Lindner, a political psychologist. I hold a doctorate from Aarhus University, was a postdoc and associate in Harvard's Department of Psychology, and taught at a US university until the end of 2025. My research focuses on radicalization, extremism, and political violence.
State of Mind is not aligned with any political party or ideology. It is, however, explicitly pro-democratic. The platform is grounded in psychological science and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, norms, and civic capacity.
This means State of Mind does not work with populist, authoritarian, or anti-democratic actors. The position is principled: democracy is the baseline, not a variable.
Commentary describes what is happening. I explain why it happens – psychologically. The work is mechanism-driven: I identify the emotional, cognitive, and social processes that produce political behavior, polarization, or democratic erosion, and translate them into something you can act on.
No. Everything is built for professionals across sectors. I translate complex research into usable frameworks – whether you work in policy, education, advocacy, media, or community organizing, the material meets you where you are.
To strengthen democratic resilience through psychological literacy. I work to increase the capacity of individuals, organizations, and institutions to understand and navigate the psychological dynamics that shape political life – from emotional reactivity and identity-based conflict to manipulation and radicalization.
Psychological literacy means understanding the mechanisms behind human behavior – particularly in political and civic contexts. It involves recognizing how emotions, identity, cognition, perception, and social dynamics drive action and judgment, and being equipped with frameworks to respond to those dynamics constructively.
NGOs and advocacy organizations, educational institutions, policy and governance bodies, media and communications, and civil society. The work combines research, education, strategy, and applied tools – academically grounded, practically usable, and adaptable across contexts.
Every output is grounded in psychological research and built for real-world use. I translate mechanisms into frameworks, tools, and interventions that professionals and organizations can apply in their own contexts. Every framework names the mechanism, the situation it applies to, and what to do about it.
The seven tracks are the core psychological domains that structure all of my work:
• Emotion, Regulation & Political Life – how emotions shape political perception and behavior
• Authoritarianism & Democratic Resilience – the psychological foundations of authoritarian attitudes
• Dehumanization & Propaganda – how groups are stripped of moral worth through narrative
• Extremism & Radicalization – how individuals move toward extreme beliefs and behaviors
• Identity & Group Behavior – how identity shapes perception, belonging, and conflict
• Misinformation & Manipulation – how information environments shape belief
• Polarization & Communication – why communication breaks down in divided environments
The tracks are interconnected psychological systems. For example, identity dynamics (Track 5) feed into polarization (Track 7). Emotional reactivity (Track 1) interacts with susceptibility to misinformation (Track 6). Dehumanization (Track 3) can be both a driver and a product of radicalization (Track 4). My work often engages multiple tracks simultaneously to reflect how these mechanisms operate in real political life.
Any single track or combination of tracks can be engaged depending on the need. Organizations often begin with the track most relevant to their challenge – for example, a media literacy organization might start with Track 6 (Misinformation & Manipulation) while a conflict resolution NGO might focus on Track 5 (Identity & Group Behavior) and Track 7 (Polarization & Communication).
I offer four core services:
• Workshops & Trainings – structured sessions built around the seven psychological tracks, available individually or in combination.
• Public Speaking & Keynotes – talks designed to make psychological mechanisms accessible and actionable for a wide range of audiences.
• Strategic Advising – issue-specific consulting that applies psychological analysis to a defined challenge.
• Embedded Programs & Partnerships – longer-term collaboration where I work alongside an organization to build internal capacity over time.
All services are psychologically grounded, mechanism-driven, and designed for real-world application.
I offer 42 workshops across all seven psychological tracks – from Emotion, Regulation & Political Life to Polarization & Communication. Each workshop is a standalone session focused on a specific domain. The full overview of available workshops is in the catalog.
Yes. Multiple workshops can be combined into a comprehensive course or masterclass format. This allows movement through several tracks in sequence, building a layered understanding of how psychological mechanisms interact in political and civic contexts. Masterclass formats are well suited for teams or organizations developing substantial psychological literacy across multiple domains.
Absolutely. If an organization faces a specific challenge that does not map neatly onto a single existing workshop, we can develop a tailored program around it. The organization brings the context – the problem, the audience, the stakes – and I design the psychological framework, content, and delivery to address it directly. Custom work often draws from multiple tracks and is shaped entirely by what the situation requires.
Strategic advising is typically shorter-term and issue-specific. An organization brings a defined challenge — a campaign, a communication problem, a polarization dynamic — and I provide psychological analysis, frameworks, and recommendations to address it. The organization retains full ownership of execution.
Embedded programs and partnershipsThese involve deeper, longer-term collaboration. I work alongside an organization over time — co-developing curricula, building internal psychological literacy capacity, or integrating frameworks into ongoing operations.
In short:Advising provides the map. Embedded work walks the terrain with you.
Yes. I am available for keynotes, panel contributions, and public speaking engagements – at conferences, institutional events, and organizational gatherings. Talks are built around the seven tracks and tailored to the audience and context. Get in touch with me to discuss availability, format, and topic.
Pricing reflects the scope, depth, and duration of the engagement. Workshops and keynotes are typically priced per session. Strategic advising is scoped by project. Embedded programs and partnerships are structured over a longer timeframe and priced accordingly. Every collaboration begins with clarity on expectations and fairness on value.
Workshop pricing varies depending on factors such as duration, audience size, level of customization, and whether the session is delivered in person or remotely. Reach out to discuss the specifics and receive a clear quote.
I aim to make psychological insight accessible. Part of the schedule is reserved for reduced-rate partnerships with public schools, grassroots initiatives, and educators operating in under-resourced contexts. NGOs, campaigns, and institutional clients pay standard professional rates, helping sustain this balance of access and equity. If budget is a constraint, it is worth having the conversation.
The simplest way is to get in touch directly. Share a brief description of what is needed – the type of service, the context, the audience, and any relevant constraints – and I will respond with a tailored proposal and pricing. Custom quotes are provided within 3–5 business days.
Yes. The psychological mechanisms that I address – identity, emotion, polarization, authoritarianism, propaganda – operate across geographic boundaries. While political contexts vary, the underlying dynamics are often structurally similar. I work internationally and adapt frameworks to local conditions and institutional environments.
Yes. All offerings are available in both English and German, depending on audience preference. Materials can be bilingual upon request. Sessions can be delivered online, in-person, or hybrid.