Thematic paths

Social influence is one of the central themes of social psychology, but in public debate it is presented in a simplistic and sensational way. Here we analyze this impact in depth, looking at the following issues:

Social impact: when and how social influence actually works, where persuasion ends and manipulation begins, and why “mind programming” is more often a myth than a science.

Psychology in Business vs. Psychological Business: what in practice gives the psychology of organization and consumer behavior, and what is the marketing promise of “miraculous” techniques of influence without a scientific basis.

Social psychology around us: field experiments and observations showing how norms, context, and the presence of others shape decisions in everyday situations.

Cross-cultural psychology in practical applications: how cultural differences affect communication, trust and cooperation and how to translate scientific knowledge into integration, management and migration policies.

Misinformation: mechanisms of susceptibility to false narratives, the role of emotions and group dynamics, and methods of building the informational resilience of individuals and institutions.

Psychology plays an essential role in understanding the relationship between human behavior and societies and the climate crisis. To better understand the mechanisms at work here, we will look at them in the following contexts:

Fast fashion and ecosystem: psychological mechanisms of the need to own and succumb to fashion and ways of distinguishing real pro-ecological actions from appearances.

Ecological anxiety and climate doom: emotional responses to the climate crisis, their consequences for mental health, and strategies for reinforcing agency and reducing apathy.

Activism and Climate Change: psychological barriers to acceptance of scientific data and the effectiveness of pro-climate activism.

Climate Migration and the Functioning of Societies: the psychological and social consequences of climate change-induced migration for individuals, communities and social systems.

Digital technologies have become an integral part of everyday life, influencing ways to regulate emotions, build relationships, learn and make decisions, and aid therapy. So we look at the following issues:

Artificial intelligence and psychological aspects of human functioning: the possibilities, risks and limits of the use of AI in the understanding of what it means to “think” and “feel”, and in diagnosis and psychological assistance.

Social media and smartphone use and mental health: what the data say about the impact of screens on well-being, especially in children and adolescents, and what limiting use makes sense in the light of the available knowledge.

Computer games: the psychological mechanisms behind games “pulling” us in (e.g., rewards, challenges, and the illusion of control) and turning them into a harmful habit.

Smart Vehicles and Moral Dilemmas the psychology of morality towards the decisions of autonomous machines, responsibility for the effects of the operation of algorithms and social acceptance of technology.

Psychological Interventions on the Internet: technologies (e.g. apps, VR, chatbots) in prevention and psychological support and scientific evidence.

There are phenomena that we know well, but which today, in the light of the progress of knowledge and technology and cultural changes, acquire a completely new meaning. We look here, therefore, at how psychology confronts the widely discussed challenges of the modern age. This includes the following threads:

New Faces of Weight Loss: psychological, social and ethical consequences of pharmacological weight regulation, cultural pressure of thinness, and changes in the understanding of eating habits.

Neurodiversity and gender: gender differences in the diagnosis of neurodiversity, the phenomenon of symptom masking, and the relationships between neurodiversity and gender identity.

The New Masculinity: redefinition of masculinity in the modern world, its impact on identity, interpersonal relationships and psychological well-being of men.

Loneliness and its monetization: psychological effects of the commercialization of loneliness, digital relationship substitutes, and technological “management” of the need for closeness.

Non-WEIRD Psychology: universality of psychological models based on studies of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) populations.

Close relationships remain a key social environment in which individual development takes place and shapes well-being. These relationships are currently undergoing dynamic transformations. We will look at the various aspects of these changes and the resulting conclusions in the following thematic threads:

The Modern Family: new forms of family life, their social conditions and their importance for well-being.

Romantic Relationships: contemporary expectations of romantic relationships, the tension between closeness and autonomy, and the psychological underpinnings of lasting relationships.

Psychology of Dating: mate selection mechanisms, the impact of dating apps and the causes of dating fatigue in the modern world.

Relationships between mental and physical health: a holistic approach to health, integrating mental and somatic processes in everyday lifestyle, prevention and therapy.

Sexuality, including pornography use and abuse: sexual functioning in the digital age, the boundaries between exploration and abuse, and consequences for relationships and mental health.

Depression — Myths and Facts: a contemporary view of depression and the variety of its symptoms and the effectiveness and limitations of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Mobbing at work: psychological mechanisms of mobbing and discrimination, their consequences for health and strategies for recognition and counteraction in the professional environment.

Burnout and procrastination: contemporary problems of professional functioning associated with chronic stress, procrastination and fear of work.

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Biological conditions form the basis of human capabilities. However, many myths and simplifications can be identified here. We will review them in relation to the following topics:

Intelligence, creativity and mind peeping: what intelligence and creativity are, how to measure and interpret them, and how to distinguish sound empirical conclusions from common myths and simplifications.

Heredity and Behavioral Genetics: how to understand the heritability of traits, gene-environment relationships, and why “innate” does not mean immutable or resistant to the influence of experience.

Psychedelics in therapy: the clinical potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the conditions of safety and efficacy, and the risks arising from abuse and non-medical uses.

Psychology of Aging: cognitive and emotional changes in later life and strategies to support healthy aging and maintain fitness despite increasing health burdens

Artistic sensations are an integral part of the human experience, and modern psychology is increasingly understanding their importance for the functioning of the mind. We focus here on the relationships between psychological processes and the creation and reception of art. Among the areas we cover are:

Neuroaesthetics for every day and from the holiday: how the brain responds to the art and aesthetics of the everyday environment, and how beauty affects emotions, decisions, and well-being.

Music and the Human Mind: neuropsychological mechanisms of the influence of music on emotions, physiological responses, stress regulation and psychological well-being.

Creativity and burnout among artists: psychological costs of creative work, job pressure and uncertainty, and ways to protect mental health in creative professions.

The city is not only an infrastructure, but also an environment of daily psychophysical functioning. We are therefore interested in topics such as:

City for pedestrians: how the design of a space conducive to walking affects the health, social activity, psychological well-being and quality of life of residents.

A city conducive to psychological recovery: the role of greenery and aesthetic and quiet urban spaces in reducing stress and promoting rest.

Places, social relations and identity: how urban spaces build a sense of belonging, social connections and local engagement.

Safe Cities: design of public space and a sense of security, social relations and a sense of happiness of residents.

War is one of the key events of a potentially traumatic nature, not only for individuals, but for entire societies. Understanding the psychological context is crucial for preventing the escalating mechanisms that result in armed conflict, as well as for effectively helping those struggling with their effects. So, we will discuss the following topics here:

War and Peace: how the threat of conflict and the experience of war affect affective well-being, social attitudes, and relationships, and why trauma can sustain a spiral of hostility rather than foster peace.

Historical trauma in the formation of identity and relationships: how collective memory and intergenerational transmission affect identity, prejudice, and reconciliation, and when the past helps and when it blocks development.

Radicalization of social relations and the world of politics: psychological sources of polarization, its costs for dialogue and governance, and strategies to limit the escalation of social conflict.

Psychology provides an empirical framework not only to describe and understand, but also to enhance well-being and quality of life. Here we will look at the mechanisms of well-being studied in the following areas:

Well-being and happiness: what is the good life, what are the psychological alternatives to the pursuit of happiness and how to develop competences that promote lasting well-being.

The power of sleep as a generator of health, happiness and success: the role of sleep in mental, physical, cognitive and social health and the causes of sleep disorders and methods of their reduction.

Can happiness be bought? : relationships between well-being and money, consumption, experiences and relationships, and the limits of material sources of happiness.

In search of happiness and meaning: a debate focusing on a multidimensional approach in discovering the essence of well-being and mature inner life.

Frontiers in Psychology explores the tensions between knowledge based on empirical evidence, the professional application of psychology, and its presence in popular culture. We will do this in relation to the following issues:

Psychology in Popular Discourse: where the line runs between the reliable popularization of psychological knowledge and its oversimplification, infantilization and loss of scientific responsibility.

Can anyone become a psychotherapist? : the differences between psychology and psychotherapy, the importance of methods based on scientific evidence, and criteria for the effectiveness and ethics of therapeutic work.

The role of the mind in sport: the importance of mental preparation in achieving sporting success, coping with pressure and failure and the transfer of psychological competence to everyday life.

Criminal Psychopathy — Myths, Theory, Research, and Practice: confrontation of popular notions about psychopathy with research findings and implications for diagnosis and practice.

The functioning of learners and learners at school depends on a complex interplay of individual, relational and institutional factors. Psychology helps to understand how to make this experience actually pro-developmental. We will review what is known about it in relation to the following areas:

Protective factors and risk factors in educational institutions: how the school environment can support or threaten the mental health of students and teachers.

Challenges of the modern school and good practices: the real problems of education, the role of teachers and school leaders and effective solutions to promote well-being in schools.

Youth Forum: the voice of students as a key resource in the design of a school that supports the well-being, agency and development of young people.