2025 APS Global Summit Program

This session invites scholars to envision a psychological science that truly spans the globe, bridging the richness of cultural diversity with the universality of human experience. From Asifa Majid’s exploration of how language and culture shape cognition, to Laurence Kirmayer’s innovative ecosocial approach to mental health, the panel highlights groundbreaking methods for understanding the mind in context. Amber Thalmayer will share transformative lifespan research from Africa, while Harvey Whitehouse will reveal how universal traits like conformism, religiosity, and tribalism have shaped humanity. Together, these talks will illuminate a bold path toward a more inclusive, impactful, and globally connected psychological science.

This study will examine how identity, reintegration, and motivation influence entrepreneurial success among Ugandan diaspora returnees. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, it will explore the lived experiences of 24 returnees (12 males, 12 females, 18 and above). Findings aim to inform policies leveraging returnee entrepreneurship for sustainable, diaspora-driven national development.

Ghosting (i.e., ending relationships by cutting off contact) is a common phenomenon but has mostly been studied within the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. We will describe and discuss findings and implications of a cross-cultural project on ghosting knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors in friendships and romantic relationships.

By asking research participants to indicate their race from a set of race categories are we inadvertently misrepresenting their racial identities and harming their well-being? Does reporting “N participants were [race category]” suggest that race is objective and immutable? In this session, we will brainstorm how to avoid these problems.

This conceptual study draws on speech act theory and social ontology to distinguish family purpose from family function. We show that performative purpose statements constitute families as autonomous plural subjects. The findings offer a framework for analyzing how families co-create identity, continuity, and commitment through collective self-definition.

This round table will focus broadly on the impact of addiction on parenting, children, and families, and will include research questions, methodology, assessment, and other pressing topics related to parenting and addiction. We will discuss implications for policy, prevention, and treatment, as well as opportunities for collaboration and future work.

The current study is a pilot survey study for teachers’ experiences with student bullying in India (student aged between 4 to 18). Eleven teachers completed the current study with multiple choice questions. Three experienced student bullying personally, eight witnessed student bullying against other teachers.

This panel examines decolonizing neurodiversity research through the lens of intellectual humility and co-liberation frameworks. Moving beyond scarcity-based hierarchies, panelists discuss how supremacist ideologies devalue the worth of neurodivergent individuals while demonstrating community-based participatory approaches that honor inherent dignity and foster authentic collaboration in research practice.

Additional authors: Dr. Jennifer Feitosa, Claremont McKenna College, USA. Geared toward graduate students and early career scholars, this session will feature panelists who have transitioned between academic systems and can speak to differences in tenure expectations, publishing norms, funding landscapes, and institutional culture.

AI can help scaffold student research and writing in psychology, from idea formation to assisting with writing the final paper. We have found that AI may be helpful for student writing, especially for those students who struggle, because it scaffolds their ability to begin the research and writing process.

We investigate culturally-linked psychological defaults (“cultural defaults”) as a theoretical basis for generating culturally-attuned messages that motivate action for climate adaptation. Through large-scale surveys and cultural product analysis, we identify a constellation of cultural defaults that vary across subgroups in the U.S. and between U.S. and East Asia.

A long-standing model supports the development of graduate student instructors through a structured course covering FERPA, policies, pedagogy, and course materials. A small cohort gains foundational knowledge and hands-on experience through observed teaching before leading Introductory Psychology courses, fostering both confidence and competence in the classroom.

Psi Chi global hybrid sessions at psychology conventions enable international chapters to participate while removing financial barriers of international travel. Students engage in a peer-reviewed research competition and gain valuable experience presenting research. By integrating global voices into a regional forum, this program fosters cross-cultural scientific exchange.

This roundtable explores how chronic stress impacts Black women’s mental and physical health, drawing on clinical observations from years of therapy sessions. It examines the Strong Black Woman schema as a coping mechanism and presents African-centered healing strategies that restore identity, spirit, and wellness through assertiveness, boundaries, and emotional reconnection.

This qualitative systematic review analyzed 41 studies using the PRISMA model to explore the impact of social media advertisements on female self-concept in Asian countries. Findings show consistent links between ad exposure and body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and cultural pressure, suggesting a need for intervention and culturally informed digital policy.

Caregivers of adolescents with asthma in a low-income U.S. community identified multilevel barriers—individual (e.g., stress, mental health), family (e.g., smoking, food insecurity), and systemic (e.g., pollution, limited coverage)—to effective self-management. Facilitators included home routines, self-efficacy behaviors, and culturally preferred remedies. Findings call for caregiver-informed, context-specific interventions.

Additional Author: Koraima Sotomayor-Enriquez, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK. This session offers a clear roadmap to help international students identify available funding sources, understand application requirements, and develop effective strategies to secure financial support throughout their academic journey.

Addditional Author: Taylor Burnham, Society of Behavioral Medicine We will explore considerations for advancing health equity as psychological scientists and behavioral medicine researchers. Emphasis will be on inclusive, community-engaged, culturally responsive research, and social justice. This roundtable is co-sponsored by the Association for Psychological Science and Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Visual working memory showed striking temporal dissociation: angular boundaries (rectangles, pentagons) enhanced early maintenance (500ms) but declined 40%+, while circular boundaries improved 130% by 1500ms, achieving >100% efficiency. Performance changes followed geometric principles (R²=.93). Findings reveal dynamic memory reorganization from discrete perceptual to statistical ensemble representations, reconciling competing capacity theories.

This study piloted a 6-week intervention combining systemic therapy and therapeutic role-playing games for women survivors of domestic violence. Using mixed methods, significant improvements were found in PTSD, anxiety, depression, and well-being. Tools included STAI, CES-D, DTS, and others. Participants expressed strong engagement and desire for continued group therapy.

This roundtable explores how subjective well-being, materialism, and financial skills interact to influence financial well-being in African Americans. Discussing findings from a large, representative dataset, we will consider implications for psychological science, policy, and interventions to foster financial stability and equity.

The proposed longitudinal study is guided by Modified Labeling Theory. College students in the United States will be recruited via social media and will complete eight surveys across four years. Adoption and denial of health-related labels will be examined with internalized stigma, social identity threat, and resilience to challenges.

Explore practical strategies for sharing psychological science with diverse audiences. This session highlights how to make research engaging, accessible, and impactful across academic, public, and policy contexts. - The bi-directional benefit of science communication - How to fund your science communication activities - How to measure science communication impact - Examples of science communication: from festivals to filmmaking

This session will tackle the pressing challenges and exciting possibilities of advancing psychology on a global scale. Michele Gelfand will offer forward-looking perspectives on navigating cultural and societal complexities. Waikaremoana Waitoki will challenge us to confront the legacies of racism, colonialism, and epistemic injustice, calling for decolonized approaches that honor Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and collective care. Batja Mesquita will highlight how diverse social contexts shape human behavior and psychological understanding, revealing the richness of cultural variation. Kevin Durrheim will explore how Large Language Models mirror human intelligence, culture, and bias, offering tools to illuminate social dynamics and emphasizing ethical responsibility. Together, the panel inspires a psychology that listens, learns, and innovates with justice, inclusivity, and global impact at its heart.

LLMs were not designed to replace healthcare professionals, yet they are increasingly being used for psychological well-being, raising questions about their capabilities, limitations, and ethical violations. In this workshop, we will explore if (and how) we can build AI systems that augment, rather than replace, human mental health providers.

This paper examines the integration of neurofeedback, biofeedback, and computerized testing systems like VTS in psychological research. It reviews their foundations, applications in performance, stress, and clinical care, and presents case studies. Challenges and future directions are discussed for ethically scaling these innovative, tech-driven psychological interventions.

The current study applies a lexical approach with natural language processing (NLP) to inductively uncover the structure of leadership qualities. The method identifies eight leadership descriptor categories that align with and extend beyond existing frameworks, demonstrating the potential of NLP to enhance conceptual clarity in leadership research.

This roundtable explores what constitutes “evidence-based” psychedelic psychotherapy when neither drug nor therapeutic modality is fully validated. We will discuss insight versus behavioral change, methodological challenges in psychedelic integration, and ketamine as a contrast case. Attendees are invited to consider how psychological science can shape future psychedelic treatment frameworks.

In this roundtable, co-organized by the SPSP International Committee and APA Division 52 (Society for Global Psychology), we will discuss how to establish a norm whereby psychological journals appoint a Globalizing Editor. The session will begin with a brief introduction to the concept, followed by a discussion with invited editors.

This panel invites a reflective, cross-cultural dialogue on the evolving practice of Participatory Action Research (PAR). Panelists will share their experiences conducting research in the US and UK. Through a critical dialogue, panelists explore how a decolonial approach to conducting PAR can be adopted to promote more equitable research outcomes.

This study explores how ADHD traits affect self-regulation, stress, and interpersonal dynamics in competitive workplaces. Preliminary findings highlight cognitive strengths alongside functional impairments, emphasizing the need for nuanced clinical understanding and targeted interventions to support neurodivergent adults navigating high-performance environments.

Additional authors: Dr. Heather Flowe, University of Birmingham, UK. Geared toward graduate students and early career scholars, this session will feature panelists who have transitioned between academic systems—whether by studying or working abroad—and can speak to differences in tenure expectations, publishing norms, funding landscapes, and institutional culture.

This roundtable will explore the development of a veteran-focused Polyvictimization Identification Tool. We will discuss measurement domains, challenges of clinical implementation, and how this tool could improve trauma-informed care. Attendees will help refine the project and tool design.

This roundtable explores several explanations behind rising trends in solitude and singlehood. Through discussing how individual characteristics, life experiences, and structural factors may shape these choices, we invite reflection on how researchers can represent these shifts without reinforcing stigma, overlooking loneliness, or reducing them to personal preference alone.

Learn effective ways to involve students in large-scale replication projects and international collaborations. This workshop emphasizes hands-on opportunities that build research skills while advancing open and cross-cultural science.

A systematic literature review on the recently available research on prescribing psychologists (RxPs) was conducted to explore the safety, competence, comparison of educational preparation to other prescribers, patient and colleague experiences, and utilization in the healthcare system in the United States to inform future legislation in the US and abroad.

In this roundtable, we will discuss some of the basics of writing and submitting conference abstracts in the psychological sciences. This roundtable will feature a short presentation and interactive Q&A with the goal of providing attendees with helpful tips and tricks for writing clear and compelling abstracts.

In this session APS journal Editors-in-Chief will discuss the ins and outs of the publication process. Everything from how to find a home for your manuscript to what to do after receiving an editorial decision will be covered. This event is geared toward early-career researchers/students.

This qualitative study explores physician well-being during COVID-19 using Seligman's PERMA framework. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing physicians, the research examines well-being experiences, challenges, and coping strategies beyond burnout. Findings will inform support systems and interventions to enhance physician well-being and healthcare delivery during crises.

This panel explores belonging-centered educational approaches for neurodivergent learners through international case studies. Integrating the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care®, Scotland's NISS project, and The Beautiful Collective's framework, we examine how strength-based interventions create inclusive environments where neurological differences become valued community assets rather than deficits.

Psychology has a peacetime bias; our field largely neglects civilian populations experiencing war. This peacetime bias has theoretical, methodological, and ethical consequences. Our roundtable seeks to explore concrete next steps in collaboratively developing psychological research and theories that address the pressing challenges faced by civilians living through war and conflict.

This session will explore bold frontiers in psychology, imagining a future where science drives global understanding, peace, and innovation. Jacquelyn Cranney will explain how psychological literacy empowers individuals to apply psychology intentionally for personal, professional, and societal impact. Linda Woolf will demonstrate how psychological research can foster resilience, guide policy, and advance human dignity across communities worldwide. Chi Yue Chiu will introduce geopolitical psychology, revealing how historical, political, and social contexts shape human behavior and social understanding. Iyad Rahwan will present “machine culture,” uncovering how artificial intelligence both reflects and reshapes human culture. Together, these talks aim to inspire a globally engaged, ethically grounded, and forward-looking psychological science.

We present findings from the first sham-controlled trial testing transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) combined with cognitive training in children with ADHD. Results show improved clinical symptoms and modulation of excitation-inhibition balance, highlighting aperiodic EEG exponents as potential biomarkers and supporting tRNS as a promising non-invasive intervention for ADHD.

The construction of the Ginhawa Scale followed a systematic and rigorous process to ensure its validity and reliability as a culturally grounded measure of well-being in the Filipino context. Ultimately, results establish the Ginhawa Scale- able to capture its multidimensional nature across physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.

Cultural diversity poses challenges to developing a global psychological science and effectively applying it to clinical settings. This roundtable will discuss steps towards a systematic, culturally-attuned database. We will consider what questions are most pressing, what methods are most effective, and how to build collaborative global networks of locally-situated researchers.

uring the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and in previous health crises (such as the H1N1 pandemics), healthcare workers were applauded as ‘heroes’. Military, as well as police, firefighters, and other first responders, are often called ‘heroes’. What are the causes and consequences of being perceived collectively as "heroes"?

Grounded in transpersonal theory, it integrates embodied ritual and imaginal processes to explore the psyche. A three-step research design demonstrates how symbolic engagement through structure-building, nature, and active imagination generates valid, transformative, and scientifically relevant psychological data.

In this roundtable, we will discuss some of the basics of writing and submitting conference abstracts in the psychological sciences. This roundtable will feature a short presentation and interactive Q&A with the goal of providing attendees with helpful tips and tricks for writing clear and compelling abstracts.

In this session APS journal Editors-in-Chief will discuss the ins and outs of the publication process. Everything from how to find a home for your manuscript to what to do after receiving an editorial decision will be covered. This event is geared toward early-career researchers/students.

This roundtable brainstorms future research directions and global collaborations for the "Empowered Recovery" model in eating disorders. It seeks to explore advancing this integrated approach, linking agency, neurobiological reward, trauma, and culture, to foster more effective, person-centered, and sustainable recovery pathways for individuals worldwide.

I present empirical evidence that increased cognitive load during digital multitasking impairs emotion regulation. Using EEG, pupillometry, and ecological momentary assessments, we find that mindfulness-based digital prompts significantly enhance regulatory success. Findings inform cognitive-affective theory and the development of adaptive interventions in digitally demanding environments.

In this roundtable, we discuss parental construction and regulation  of childhood innocence. Using mixed-methods studies, we document multiple dimensions of parental regulation of childhood innocence, and demonstrate its relation to ethnic-racial and gender socialization. broader implications for how children are prepared—or shielded—from engaging with social realities and inequalities.

Discover key principles for building and sustaining successful interdisciplinary collaborations. This session covers foundational skills for navigating team dynamics, communication, and project management in psychological science and beyond.

We created a unidimensional measure of essentialist beliefs about gonadal hormones (EBAGHs). Higher EBAGH scorers claimed superior sex-congruent testosterone and estrogen levels relative to their same-sex peers irrespective of the levels’ perceived healthiness, and EBAGH endorsement was linked to the self-reported influence of mainstream entertainment and social media.

How does visual language reshape the perception–production loop? This roundtable integrates neurophysiological, kinematic, and behavioral findings to explore how sign language experience transforms motion perception and motor control. We examine how signers and learners dynamically adapt to linguistic demands, revealing new insights into predictive processing and sensorimotor plasticity in communication.

When asked about future teamwork strategies, 58% of BIPOC women chose adjusting strategies, while the majority of White women, BIPOC men and White men chose influencing strategies for teamwork, confirming our prediction that race and gender drive some groups to act more independently and other groups to act more interdependently.

This roundtable presents three studies using Item Response Theory to examine cultural validity in resilience, emotional intelligence, and playfulness measures. Findings highlight differential item functioning across cultures, emphasizing the need for culturally grounded assessment. Discussion will focus on IRT applications for improving cross-cultural measurement and guiding future international collaborations.

This research uses intergroup threat theory to examine how perceptions of undocumented Mexican immigrants influence immigration policy attitudes. Threat dimensions—including symbolic and realistic threats, anxiety, negative and positive stereotyping—were tested. Findings reveal predictors of punitive and favorable attitudes toward general immigration and Mexico-specific policies, including support for resources in detention.

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Additional Author: Koraima Sotomayor-Enriquez, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK. This session offers a clear roadmap to help international students identify available funding sources, understand application requirements, and develop effective strategies to secure financial support throughout their academic journey.

Graduate student mental wellness is an unrefuted area of concern for higher education institutions. However, relatively few studies have focused on this area. This roundtable will present a framework based on the results of a literature review focusing on the diverse factors that affect graduate student wellness.

Across four focus groups with seven Wesleyan pastors and eight Christian faculty members (plus one ironically populated by non-experts using ChatGPT to answer our questions), participants mentioned positive LLM uses/impacts, but highlighted concerns about LLMs' impact on authenticity, trust, skill development and dangerous beliefs in their communities.

This roundtable explores how psychological science can contribute to advancing reproductive justice and addressing maternal health disparities. Interdisciplinary panelists will examine intersections of mental, physical, and reproductive health, highlight systemic inequities, and discuss collaborative, justice-oriented solutions that integrate psychology with nursing, public health, policy, and community-based approaches.

Children are curious about death, yet many parents and teachers report feeling uncomfortable and unqualified to discuss it with them. Results from qualitative findings suggest that art-based interventions can facilitate meaningful discussions on this topic, with children noting enhanced emotional expression, increased empathy, and significant shifts in perspective.

This roundtable explores whether an a priori consensus can be reached regarding the empirical criteria that support or falsify competing accounts of the gender-equality paradox. By clarifying theoretical disagreements and identifying relevant data sources, the discussion aims to advance collaborative research and deepen understanding of gender differences across cultural contexts.

This workshop explores the promises of cross-cultural research and its challenges, including conceptual, measurement, and linguistic (non)equivalence, test-setting issues, and data interpretation. Advocating a decolonial approach that honors local researchers, practices, ethics, and epistemologies, it urges participants to rethink dominant scientific paradigms and to embrace context-sensitive, equitable modes of collaboration.

Attend this session to hear Global Summit highlights from Rachael Jack, (Global Summit Planning Committee Co-Chair) as well as updates from Teresa Bajo, Lluis Fuentemilla, and Clara Pretus Gomez on the 2026 APS Annual Convention in Barcelona Spain!