LAST CALL! Submit by Oct 8! Existential Psychology 2027 SPSP Preconference in Philadelphia PA on Feb 11. Speaker theme: Awe, Growth, & the Good Life. Keynotes, Research Talks, Data Blitzes, Posters, Awards! Visit issep.org/conference for info, submission, registration

Existential Psychology 2027 SPSP Preconference in Philadelphia PA on Feb 11. Submit by Oct 8, Register by Jan 29! Speaker theme: Awe, Growth, & the Good Life. Keynotes, Research Talks, Data Blitzes, Posters, Awards! Visit issep.org/conference for info, submission, registration.

What does it mean to “be yourself”? Josh Wilt's research on state authenticity suggests authenticity is less about a fixed “true self” and more about continually creating yourself - and your values, emotions, relationships - depending on your environment. www.issep.org/features/man...

The Many Faces of State Authenticity — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Joshua A. Wilt

issep.org

Boredom indicates a lack of meaningful engagement. Muireann O'Dea found self-compassion buoys the sense of meaning & reduces boredom. She connected it to lockdown protests, Dalai Lama, mused about next steps, grad school advice, and the music of Del Water Gap! www.issep.org/spotlights/o...

Muireann O'Dea on boredom, self-compassion, and meaning — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Muireann O’Dea’s research explores the experiences of boredom, self-compassion, and meaning in life.

issep.org

How do philosophers and lay people think about "free will"? Philosopher Alfred R. Mele points out that, oftentimes, philosophers and lay people think about free will in different ways -- which means it might be an illusion for one but real for another. www.issep.org/features/fre...

Free Will — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Alfred R. Mele

issep.org

Do you think your identity, values, traits, and skills are set in stone or can you change them? Ana Tello’s research explores the effects of fixed (vs. growth) mindsets and self-compassion on mental health. www.issep.org/spotlights/t...

Ana Tello, undergraduate research on fixed vs. growth mindsets — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Ana Tello’s research explores the effects of fixed (vs. growth) mindsets and self-compassion on mental health.

issep.org

Is your attachment to the places you inhabit related to your perception of meaning in life? Ashley Krause uses lab and field studies to learn more about how our places can be dens of coherence and significance and platforms for purpose. www.issep.org/features/pla...

Place Attachment Impacts Meaning in Life — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Ashley N. Krause

issep.org

Jonah Li studies what people *consciously* think makes their life meaningful. Latent profile analysis ID'd relationships, spirituality and personal growth, and significance/impact. Also shared abt choosing paths to meaning, gave advice, and talked music. www.issep.org/spotlights/j...

Jonah Li on meaning and purpose in life — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Jonah Li’s research studies meaning and purpose in life and the impact of free will and determinism beliefs on meaning.

issep.org

Be a Co-Organizer of the Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference! Theme: Awe, Growth, & the Good Life Date: Thur, Feb 11, 2027 (alt: Tue, Feb 9, 2027). See link for est timeline. Submit Expression of Interest by June 10, 2026 (11:59pm, Eastern USA time). www.issep.org/preconferenc...

Serve as a Co-Organizer of the Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference! — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Apply to serve as a Co-Organizer of the Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference! Due by June 10.

issep.org

Awe... a sense of vastness, a need to accommodate new info beyond our previous comprehension. Josh Perlin argues it quiets the ego, promotes interdependence, prosocial motivation, and transforms one's autobiographical narrative—that it promotes growth. www.issep.org/features/awe

Awe: An existential emotion that promotes personal growth — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Joshua Perlin

issep.org

New! Handbook of the Science of Existential Psychology 65 chapters: time, aging, death; freedom, authenticity, morality; isolation, uncertainty, shared reality; culture, identity; meaning; religion/spirituality; awe, growth, good life. Use “ISSEP15” for 15% off! www.guilford.com/books/Handbo...

Use promo code ISSEP#10#off Virtual Summit on AI and the Future of Wellbeing, March 23-27, 2026, chaired by Dr Martin Seligman and Dr Llewellyn van Zyl, hosted by the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). Registration closes on March 23. ippasummit.vfairs.com

AI and the Future of Wellbeing: Navigating the Promise and Perils for Positive Psychology

ippasummit.vfairs.com

Existential Psychology 2026 virtual conference on Feb 24. Register: Early-bird rate by Jan 22; Regular rate by Feb 13! Theme: Meaning & Purpose. Keynotes by Mike Steger, Tim Golden; 12 Invited Talks, 10 Data Blitzes, 72 posters, awards! Visit issep.org/conference to register.

Remember growing into, or out of, your religious beliefs? Shoko Watanabe studies longitudinal patterns of religious doubt & belief from adolescence to young adulthood. She talked about that, St. Paul's road to Damascus, South Park, advice, and Lauryn Hill. www.issep.org/spotlights/w...

Shoko Watanabe on religious doubt and disaffiliation — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Shoko Watanabe’s research explores stability and change in religious doubt and engagement.

issep.org

Last call for Research Grant proposals! Due Nov 15. Multiple funded in 5 tracks: General; Cross-Cultural; International; Interdisciplinary; Ernest Becker. Funds research on the dynamics of being and becoming in social and mental life. More info: www.issep.org/research-gra...

Research Grants — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Each year, ISSEP will fund a set of research grants (up to $3,000 per project) — inexpensive but well-designed and well-powered studies that have the potential to contribute to the literature and a la...

issep.org

Call for Research Grant proposals! Due Nov 15. Multiple funded in 5 tracks: General; Cross-Cultural; International; Interdisciplinary; Ernest Becker. Funds research on the dynamics of being and becoming in social and mental life. More info: www.issep.org/research-gra...

Research Grants — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Each year, ISSEP will fund a set of research grants (up to $3,000 per project) — inexpensive but well-designed and well-powered studies that have the potential to contribute to the literature and a la...

issep.org

Call for Annual Award Nominations! Due Nov 15. • Distinguished Career ($1,000) • Early Career ($1,000) • Outstanding Student ($500) • Best Paper ($500) in 5 tracks: General; Cross-cultural; International; Interdisciplinary; Ernest Becker. More info: www.issep.org/annual-awards

Annual Awards — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Each year, ISSEP funds the Early and Distinguished Career Contribution Awards ($1000 each), Best Paper Award ($500), and Outstanding Student Award ($500)

issep.org

Dan McAdams considers how identity involves conscious experience of choice, impacting the way we craft and re-craft our selves. Identity is a story (the "true novel") written with fear and trembling and sometimes with generativity and redemption. www.issep.org/features/nar...

Narrative Identity is Existentialist — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Dan P. McAdams

issep.org

4 days left for submissions! Existential Psychology 2026 SPSP Preconference: Submit by Oct 23, Register by Feb 13! Theme: Meaning & Purpose. Keynote by Mike Steger, Special by Tim Golden; 12 Invited Talks, Data Blitz & Posters, awards, funding! www.issep.org/conference

The 4th World Congress of Existential Therapy will be in Denver/Aurora, Colorado, June 3-6, 2026. Call for Papers, open to December 1, 2025. Largest gathering of existential therapists in the world, every 3-4 years; this is the 1st in the USA. Visit wcet4.com

Tessa van der Willigen was the Chief of Staff to 2 of IMF’s Managing Directors. Now, she works on existential psychology, and spoke with us about the difference between ontological and phenomenological autonomy. Also, advice, Shakespeare, & Kae Tempest. www.issep.org/spotlights/w...

Tessa van der Willigen on Autonomy — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Tessa van der Willigen’s work advances our understanding of the experience of autonomy.

issep.org

Due Nov 15: Nominate yourself/others for our... • Distinguished Career Award ($1000). • Early Career Award ($1000). • Outstanding Student Award ($500). • Best Paper Award ($500), one each in five categories. www.issep.org/annual-awards

Annual Awards — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Each year, ISSEP funds the Early and Distinguished Career Contribution Awards ($1000 each), Best Paper Award ($500), and Outstanding Student Award ($500)

issep.org

Due Nov 15: Apply for a research grant (up to $3,000 per project). Multiple funded in each of 4 tracks: General; Cross-Cultural; International; Interdisciplinary. www.issep.org/research-gra...

Research Grants — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Each year, ISSEP will fund a set of research grants (up to $3,000 per project) — inexpensive but well-designed and well-powered studies that have the potential to contribute to the literature and a la...

issep.org

Due Nov 15: Applications for the Ernest Becker Honors. Up to $3,500 per research grant, $500 for best paper award, addressing ideas of Ernest Becker via the science of existential psychology. See site for details. www.issep.org/ernest-becke...

Ernest Becker Honors — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

issep.org

Existential Psychology 2026 SPSP Preconference: Submit by Oct 23, Register by Feb 13! Speaker theme: Meaning & Purpose. Keynote by Mike Steger, Special by Tim Golden; 12 Invited Talks, 2 Data Blitz sessions, Poster session, award ceremony, award funding! www.issep.org/conference

Conference — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

At the Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference, both eminent and rising scholars present their work in a stimulating variety of formats, including a keynote address, a special address, a series of r...

issep.org

Meaning/purpose can be tough to find amid a world with indifference, pain, and suffering. Daryl Van Tongeren discusses how existential psych research studies motivated meaning; the "existential trade-offs" of religious faith; and the path to growth from suffering. www.issep.org/features/flo...

Flourishing amid suffering — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Daryl R. Van Tongeren

issep.org

Legacy... How do you want to leave your mark? Do you want to positively impact people, in some way? Or become famous so they remember you and your name? Stylianos Syropoulos studies legacy motivations & shared about the data, popular culture, and gave advice. www.issep.org/spotlights/s...

Stylianos Syropoulos on legacy motivations — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Stylianos Syropolous’s research studies impact-oriented and reputation-focused intergenerational concerns in legacy motivations.

issep.org

Eranda Jayawickreme argues posttraumatic growth is often reported, but might not be genuine. Alternative explanations include self-enhancement, active coping, expectancy violations, cultural scripts. What do we know for sure? Here are three data-based patterns... www.issep.org/features/doe...

Do we really know if adversity makes us stronger? — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Eranda Jayawickreme

issep.org

Sheila Umemoto studies how civilian and active-duty military handle existential insecurity and its effect on substance use vs. abuse, belonging, and suicide risk. She shared about the research, her life experience, art/culture, music, and offered advice. www.issep.org/spotlights/u...

Sheila Umemoto on soldiers, resilience, and suicide — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

Sheila Umemoto’s research explores resilience against suicide, especially among soldiers.

issep.org

Ross Rogers noticed we sometimes feel "bored to death" and busyness seems to cure the existential dread. His experiments suggest managing our existential concerns requires living up to our cultural values, which often means taking action. Get busy living! www.issep.org/features/shu...

Shuffling Deck Chairs on the Titanic — International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology

By Ross Rogers

issep.org