Welcome to Neuchâtel!
The University of Neuchâtel is proud to host the 11th Congress of the Swiss Psychological Society (SGP/SSP).
The thematic focus of the Congress is Interactions: Real and Virtual. We have chosen this theme to showcase the topical diversity and methodological sophistication of psychological research on social interaction. The topic also reflects a common denominator in the research agendas of the members of the Institute of Work and Organizational Psychology and the Institute of Psychology and Education.
The topic of Interactions: Real and Virtual is embodied in our choice of keynote speakers. We have invited three internationally renowned experts who study social interactions from a different and original perspective. Professor James Blascovich will speak on the topic of how virtual reality transforms human interactions. Professor Janet Bavelas will describe how to apply basic research on dialogue to psychotherapeutic and medical interactions. Professor Art Graesser will show how virtual interactions with animated agents can facilitate learning.
Our topic is also reflected in four invited symposia on various facets of social interactions: Social interactions in the clinical setting, organized by Professor Guy Bodenmann, University of Zurich, Biological bases of social interactions, organized by Professor Ulrike Ehlert, University of Zurich, Social interactions at work, organized by Professor Petra Klumb, University of Fribourg, and Social interactions and learning, organized by Professor Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont, University of Neuchâtel. We thank the symposium organizers for the effort they have contributed.
In addition, this year’s Congress will feature a special event, the Invited Spotlight, which will showcase original work by three young researchers working on novel topics in the field of social interactions. These are Linda Charvoz (University of Lausanne), Janek Lobmaier (University of Bern), and Thomas Berger (University of Berne).
The congress would not have been possible without the financial support provided by the following organizations: Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SAGW/ASSH), University of Neuchâtel, Institute of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Neuchâtel, Faculty of Economics at the University of Neuchâtel, Contact Group for Research Matters (Ciba, Novartis, Roche, Merck Serono and Syngenta), Fédération Suisse des Psychologues/Föderation Schweizer Psychologen, Swiss National Science Foundation. We gratefully acknowlege their generosity.
The organizing committee,
Adrian Bangerter
Marianne Schmid Mast
Sophie Bettex
Annick Darioly