cfp.english.upenn.edu

2013 Conference Theme: "Connectedness & Alienation: The 21st Century Enigma"

Being connected has become much easier in the 21st century. The digital revolution, the internet, social network sites, skype, and the ubiquity of mobile phones have helped us to reconnect with long-lost family and friends, to make new relationships even with people we haven not met in person, and to stay connected despite geographical separation. However, this revolution in convenience and communication has not necessarily helped us to be more truly connected. Social connectedness refers to the quality and quantity of relationships with others including family, friends, colleagues, and the wider community, through various modes of contact, and the resulting benefits. Being truly socially connected involves not only the number of connections with important people in our lives, but also factors such as trust, disclosure, loneliness and isolation. Other aspects of connectedness are also equally as important as the social: psychological connectedness with our multiple, changing selves gives us our sense of identity over space and time; connectedness with our environment, be it the natural environment or our social ones, such as school, work, or community provides us with a sense of belonging; spiritual connectedness in the transcendental sense provides meaning in our lives; and moral connectedness, being true to our values helps us to maintain our integrity in our complex lives.

We hope and expect that the conference theme, as well as the sub-themes below will excite interesting new interpretations and explorations:

Connectedness: Self, social, spiritual, natural and moral
Personal and Social Connectedness: Trusting self and others
Connectedness: Personal, inter-personal, local and global

Conference Theme: "Connectedness and Alienation: The 21st Century Enigma"
The conference theme and the organizers encourage submissions that approach this theme from a variety of perspectives, including the following streams:

General Psychology

Psychology and Education

Mental Health

Neuroscience

Industrial Organization and Organization Theory

Community Development

Qualitative/Quantitative Research in any other area of Psychology

Psychology in the Asian Context (Comparing and Contrasting)

Linguistics, Language and Psychology/Behavioral Science

Dates

Deadline for submission of abstracts (250 words): February 1 2013
Results of abstract reviews returned to authors: Usually within two weeks of submission
Deadline for submission of full papers: May 1 2013
Deadline for full conference registration payment for all presenters: March 1 2013