Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference
February 24, 2026 — Virtual
The science of existential psychology focuses on core issues of “being” and “becoming,” including: time, aging, and death; freedom and responsibility; isolation, uncertainty, and shared reality; culture, self, and identity; and meaning and purpose in life. The Existential Psychology Preconference showcases theoretical and empirical advances in this exciting area, bringing together researchers at all levels in an environment of collaboration and lively intellectual exchange.
The theme of our 8th consecutive Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference is “Meaning & Purpose.” A Keynote Address will discuss research on the search for meaning in life, and a Special Address will consider Black Existentialism and the struggle for purpose among those coping with hostile and systematic obstacles to life goals. A series of 12 Featured Research Talks will present research findings further exploring meaning and purpose in dynamic relation to social cognition, affect, and behavior. A poster session and two data blitz sessions will cover these and a wide range of other existential psychological topics, and an award ceremony will recognize excellent contributions to the field.
The event is organized by the International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology (ISSEP) and will be hosted by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) virtually on Tuesday February 24, 2026.
Submit your abstract to present a Data Blitz talk or poster! Submission portal opens September 5 - October 23, 2025.
Early-bird registration: Oct 16, 2025 - Jan 22, 2026. Regular rate: Jan 23 - Feb 13. Registration closes on Feb 13.
Below, you will find information about our programming schedule, registration, planning your trip, submitting your abstract, available awards/funding, our sponsors, and organizer contact information. Be sure to JOIN ISSEP to become eligible for the conference awards!
Event Schedule, Presenters, & Topics
Segment start time (Chicago, USA Time) | Segment | Presenter | Topic/Title |
---|---|---|---|
8:00-8:30am | Welcome, orientation |
Kenneth Vail
Cleveland State University, USA |
|
8:30-9:15am | Keynote Address |
Michael Steger
Colorado State University, USA |
The search for meaning in life |
9:15-10:15am | Poster Session | Many presenters | Various |
10:15-10:25am | Coffee Break | --- | --- |
10:25-10:40am | Research Talk #1 |
Pninit Russo-Netzer
Achva Academic College, Israel |
Meaning in life and mental health |
10:40-10:55am | Research Talk #2 |
Frank Martela
Aalto University, Finland |
Tripartite models of meaning in life |
10:55-11:10am | Research Talk #3 |
Vlad Costin
University of Sussex, England |
Coherence, significance, and purpose |
11:10-11:35am | Data Blitz #1 | 5 presenters | Various |
11:35-11:50am | Research Talk #4 |
Travis Proulx
Cardiff University, Wales |
Meaning violations and meaning maintenance |
11:50am-12:05pm | Research Talk #5 |
Eric Igou
University of Limerick, Ireland |
Boredom and meaning in life |
12:05-12:20pm | Research Talk #6 |
Jonathan Adler
Olin College, USA |
Meaning, identity, and culture |
12:20-1:20pm | Lunch | --- | --- |
1:20-2:05pm | Special Address |
Timothy Golden
Whitman College, USA |
Black existentialism, meaning, and purpose |
2:05-2:50pm | ISSEP Award Ceremony | Recognition of recipients of grants, best paper, outstanding student, career awards | Recipient remarks: Early & Distinguished Career Awards |
2:50-3:00pm | Coffee Break | --- | --- |
3:00-3:15pm | Research Talk #7 |
Samantha Heintzelman
Rutgers University, USA |
Commonplace meaning in life |
3:15-3:30pm | Research Talk #8 |
Jake Womick
California State University Bakersfield, USA |
Meaning, ideology, and politics |
3:30-3:45pm | Research Talk #9 |
Jinhyung Kim
Sogang University, Korea |
Meaning, personality, culture |
3:45-4:10pm | Data Blitz #2 | 5 presenters | Various |
4:10-4:25pm | Research Talk #10 |
Janelle Goodwill
University of Chicago, USA |
Suicide prevention and meaning, purpose, and hope among Black Americans |
4:25-4:40pm | Research Talk #11 |
Amy Wrzesniewski
University of Pennsylvania, USA |
The experience and meaning of work |
4:40-4:55pm | Research Talk #12 |
Erin Westgate
University of Florida, USA |
Meaning, purpose, and active engagement |
4:55-5:00pm | Closing Remarks |
Kenneth Vail
Cleveland State University, USA |
Register to Attend
Early Bird registration opens on October 16, 2025 and ends on January 22, 2026.
Regular registration will close on February 13, 2025.
Plan Your Trip
Our SPSP Preconference will be virtual, but if you’re planning to attend in-person, please visit the SPSP Convention website for info about the venue, official housing block, roommate match-up program, airfare discounts, and things to do in Chicago.
Submit Your Abstract
We invite anyone to submit abstracts for posters and data blitz presentations.
Data Blitz session: A Data Blitz session will feature two series of five brief (4 minutes max) research talks. Come share a snapshot of your fascinating findings!
Poster presentations: A poster session will showcase the science of existential psychology’s wide range of research topics, methods, and applications. Come show your latest work!
We invite submissions from undergraduates, graduate students, and seasoned researchers alike. Submissions may deal with any existential psychological topics, and are not required to touch on this year’s preconference theme of “Isolation, uncertainty, and shared reality.”
Abstracts can be submitted through the online submission portal (below) between September 5 - October 23, 2025. Initial selection notifications will be distributed between Nov 1 to Dec 1; further selections may be announced later.
Sponsored Awards – Funding available!
We are excited to offer a slate of sponsored conference awards to recognize innovative new research and support the attendance and inclusion of diverse students and professional researchers interested in the science of existential psychology.
HOW TO APPLY: To apply, submit your abstract(s) for a poster and/or data blitz and indicate your eligibility for one or more of the following awards on the submission form.
1. ISSEP Innovation in Existential Psychology Research Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (2) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: Innovation in XP research involves applying an existential lens to research a topic that has thus far received minimal attention in XP; developing a compelling new theoretical perspective in XP; and/or developing research methods that offer fresh insights into existential psychological processes.
2. ISSEP Cross-cultural Existential Psychology Research Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (2) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: 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.
3. ISSEP International Existential Psychology Research Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (2) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: Recognizes research led by research teams based at institutions outside of North America.
4. ISSEP Interdisciplinary Existential Psychology Research Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (2) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: 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.
5. ISSEP Graduate Student Diversity Conference Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be a graduate student; (2) must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (3) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups, to promote inclusion and cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sex/genders.
6. ISSEP Graduate Student Conference Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be a graduate student; (2) must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (3) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
7. ISSEP Undergraduate Student Diversity Conference Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an undergraduate student; (2) must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (3) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: Preference will be given to members of under-represented groups, to promote inclusion and cultivate contributions from individuals across a broad range of ages, developmental and acquired disabilities, religious perspectives, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations, indigenous heritages, national origins, and sex/genders.
8. ISSEP Undergraduate Student Conference Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an undergraduate student; (2) must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (3) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
9. ISSEP Ernest Becker Conference Award
Eligibility: (1) Must be an undergraduate student; (2) must be an active ISSEP member at time of submission/review of abstracts; (3) must be an author on submitted abstract for poster, data blitz, or other presentation.
Criteria: Recognizes work building on the ideas of Ernest Becker in advancing the research, communication, and/or application of the science of existential psychology, including quantitative and/or qualitative research, theoretical advances, or systematic reviews of the scientific literature.
Sponsors
We are proud to announce the sponsors of this year’s Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference:
International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology
The International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology is devoted to encouraging the scientific research, communication, and application of existential psychology
Cleveland State University
CSU is seeking talented students to join the Psychological Science MA or Adult Development & Aging PhD graduate program, with research focus on Existential Psychology. Learn more at CSUohio.edu
Worth Publishers
Worth Publishers offers key titles in social psychology, such as Social Psychology: The Science of Everyday Life (third edition), which integrates core perspectives in social psychology with the existential perspective.
Templeton World Charity Foundation
ISSEP is organizing this event with generous support from the Templeton World Charity Foundation (Grant #30414).
Contact Organizers
University of Kansas
mjlandau@ku.edu
Cleveland State University
k.e.vail@csuohio.edu
University of Mississippi
gnrivera@olemiss.edu
Boston College
benjamin.rogers@bc.edu
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
sw2020@illinois.edu