Conference Awards

The Innovation in Existential Psychology Award ($250) recognizes innovation in the science of existential psychology at the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP. Successful applicants are those who, in their submitted abstracts, are doing one of the following: applying an existential lens to research a topic that has thus far received minimal attention in the field; developing a compelling new theoretical perspective; or developing research methods that offer fresh insights into existential psychological processes.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

2. May be either a student or professional member;

3. Must be an author on the submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Innovation in Existential Psychology Award.

2024

Nathan Cheek. Purdue University. Choice overload as an existential problem.

2023

Joseph Maffly-Kipp. Texas A&M University. Is my true self worried? Worrying positively predicts authenticity for people high in depression.

2022

Meghan Edwards. University of Missouri. Awe and existential isolation: Awe both connects and disconnects us from others and the world.

2021

Harrison Schmitt. University of Arizona. The Psychological Experience of Water Contamination: Implications for Mental Health, Coping, and Resilience.

2020

Rachele Benjamin. University of British Columbia. From Freud to Androids: Understanding and measuring uncanny feelings.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

It has become clear that the field of psychological science has been over-representing the cultures of Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) nations in its theory and research, despite the fact that most people in the world are not WEIRD (Henrich et al., 2010; Rad et al., 2018). This is almost certainly the case in the science of existential psychology as well.

Thus, ISSEP’s Cross-Cultural Existential Psychology Research Conference Award ($250) recognizes research that adopts a cross-cultural theoretical and methodological approach to the science of existential psychology, such as including samples of participants in non-WEIRD cultural contexts.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

2. May be either a student or professional member;

3. Must be an author on the submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Cross-Cultural Existential Psychology Research Conference Award.

2025

TBD presenter. TBD affiliation. TBD title.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

The most prominent journals in psychological science have published work almost exclusively (70%+) by researchers based in North America and about population samples in North America, despite that regional context representing less than 5% of the world’s population (Arnett, 2008; Thalmayer et al., 2021). This is almost certainly the case in the science of existential psychology as well.

Thus, ISSEP’s International Existential Psychology Research Conference Award ($250) recognizes research led by research teams based at institutions outside of North America.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

2. May be either a student or professional member;

3. Must be an author on the submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the International Existential Psychology Research Conference Award.

2025

TBD presenter. TBD affiliation. TBD title.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

Interdisciplinary engagement is sure to enrich the field’s ideas and methodological approaches. Thus, ISSEP’s Interdisciplinary Existential Psychology Research Conference Award ($250) recognizes research that blends the theory and methods of existential psychology with those of other disciplines, e.g., developmental psychology, cognitive and affective science, sociology, anthropology, cultural evolution, history, political science, communications, economics, business studies, sports and athletics, religious studies, and philosophy, among others.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

2. May be either a student or professional member;

3. Must be an author on the submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Interdisciplinary Existential Psychology Research Conference Award.

2025

TBD presenter. TBD affiliation. TBD title.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

The Graduate Student Conference Awards cover the registration fees for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a graduate student;

2. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

3. Must be an author on a submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Graduate Student Conference Award.

2024

Michael White. Columbia University. Awe in Everyday Life: People Underestimate How Much Savoring Unlocks Awe in the Mundane.

2023

Perla Henderson. University of Houston. Black Lives Matter: Exploring Meaning-Making Through Social Justice Imagery.

2022

McKenzie Lockett. University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Death-related cognition and mental health among medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roger Young. University of South Florida. From others and from world: Expanding the current model of existential isolation.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

The Graduate Student Diversity Conference Award recognizes the scientific advances in existential psychology made by graduate students with diverse backgrounds, and seeks to welcome them and actively support their inclusion. The Award covers the cost of registration for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups to cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, minority religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sexes/genders.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be a graduate student;

2. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

3. Must be an author on a submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups to cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, minority religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sexes/genders.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Graduate Student Diversity Conference Award.

2024

Trisha Dutta. Florida State University. The Role of Unpredictability on Intellectual Humility.

2023

Da Ye Lee. Sogang University. Fake it till you feel it: Exploring the effects of moral and non-moral emotion regulation on authenticity.

2022

Mina Jyung. Seoul National University. We should follow our true self, but do we? Cultural differences in pursuit of true self.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

The Undergraduate Student Conference Awards cover the registration fees for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be an undergraduate student;

2. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

3. Must be an author on a submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Undergraduate Student Conference Award.

2024

Bao Han Tran. University of Houston. Existing in Time, with Company: Exploring the social and temporal variables that lead to existential well-being.

2023

Ana Tello. Baylor University. Self-Compassion Moderates the Relationship Between Fixed Versus Growth Mindsets and Mental Health Outcomes.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.

The Undergraduate Student Diversity Conference Award recognizes the scientific advances in existential psychology made by undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds, and seeks to welcome them and actively support their inclusion. The Award covers the cost of registration for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups to cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, minority religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sexes/genders.

For deadlines, see the submission window for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP.

Applicants for the award:

1. Must be an undergraduate student;

2. Must be a member of ISSEP at the time of submission and review of abstracts;

3. Must be an author on a submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.

Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups to cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, minority religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sexes/genders.

Submit an abstract for the annual Existential Psychology Preconference at SPSP, and indicate on the submission form that you would like to apply for the Undergraduate Student Diversity Conference Award.

2024

Arian Rajaeian. Arizona State University. God Representations, Compensatory Control, and Responses to Climate Change Threats.

2023

Ethan Trieu. Rutgers University. Finding Meaning in Education Bolsters Academic Self-Efficacy.

2022

Kara Ferrell. James Madison University. America shut down: Mortality salience, social media, political ideology, and health perceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For inquiries and information, please contact info@issep.org.