THEME 2027

PSYCHOLOGY AT THE CROSSROADS:

UNDERSTANDING MINDS, TRANSFORMING LIVES, SHAPING FUTURES

About the Conference

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 18th Young Psychologist Competition (YPC) and Undergraduate Research Colloquium, organised by the School of Psychological Sciences, Education and Social Work, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Yeshwanthpur Campus, on February 26, 2027.

The conference brings together undergraduate researchers from across India, along with international undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students participating in the online international session. It provides a platform for emerging scholars to present original research, exchange ideas, engage with diverse perspectives, and explore opportunities for academic and research collaboration.

Through research presentations, poster sessions, expert interactions, and hands-on workshops, the conference seeks to nurture scientific curiosity, strengthen research competencies, and encourage students to translate psychological knowledge into meaningful contributions to society.

Conference Theme

Psychology at the Crossroads: Understanding Minds, Transforming Lives, Shaping Futures

Psychology stands at the intersection of scientific discovery, human experience, and societal transformation. As individuals and communities navigate an increasingly complex world, psychological science offers valuable insights into human behaviour, mental health, learning, relationships, culture, and the changing nature of work and society.

Psychology at the Crossroads: Understanding Minds, Transforming Lives, Shaping Futures invites undergraduate researchers to explore the diverse ways in which psychological theories, methods, and evidence can deepen our understanding of the human mind and inform meaningful change. The theme encourages students to investigate contemporary psychological questions, engage with interdisciplinary perspectives, and consider how research can contribute to individual well-being, inclusive communities, and a more informed and equitable future.

By bringing together emerging researchers from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, the conference aims to foster critical inquiry, innovation, and collaboration while highlighting the transformative potential of psychological science.

Objectives of the Conference

The conference aims to:

Provide a national platform for undergraduate psychology students to present their research and participate in the Young Psychologist Competition.
Encourage undergraduate students across disciplines to engage in research and share their findings through the Undergraduate Research Colloquium.
Foster scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and academic excellence among emerging researchers.
Facilitate interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchange of ideas.
Strengthen research, presentation, and professional skills through expert feedback and hands-on workshops.
Create opportunities for faculty mentorship, networking, and national and international research collaboration.
Encourage the application of psychological knowledge to contemporary challenges and societal needs.

Conference Tracks and Sub-themes

(Participants are invited to submit original empirical research aligned with one or more of the following tracks)

Track 1: Brain & Behaviour

This track focuses on the foundational sciences of psychology, exploring the cognitive, biological, and behavioural processes underlying human experience.

Sub-themes include:

Cognitive processes and decision-making
Learning, memory, and attention
Perception and consciousness
Language and thought
Emotion and motivation
Personality and individual differences
Behavioural neuroscience and neuropsychology

Track 2: Mental Health, Healing & Human Wellbeing

This track explores mental health and well-being across the lifespan, including psychological difficulties, therapeutic approaches, resilience, and positive mental health.

Sub-themes include:

Mental health across the lifespan
Mental health stigma and help-seeking
Suicide and self-harm prevention
Trauma, grief, and recovery
Psychological resilience
Psychopathology
Counselling and psychotherapy
Health psychology
Youth, student, and community mental health
Positive mental health and flourishing

Track 3: Growing Minds: Development, Education & Learning

This track examines psychological development, learning processes, and the factors that shape educational experiences and outcomes across the lifespan.

Sub-themes include:

Child and adolescent development
Lifespan development
Parenting and family relationships
Attachment and relationships
Educational psychology
Learning and academic achievement
Motivation in education
Inclusive education
Neurodiversity and learning

Track 4: People, Relationships & Society

This track explores how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts, with particular attention to relationships, group processes, culture, and social change.

Sub-themes include:

Social cognition and behaviour
Interpersonal relationships
Family and peer relationships
Identity and self-concept
Culture and psychology
Gender and psychological experiences
Social influence and conformity
Prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination
Intergroup relations
Social media and social behaviour
Community psychology
Political and civic psychology
Psychology of social change

Track 5: Work, Organisations & the Future of Careers

This track focuses on psychological processes in workplaces and organisations, including employee experiences, leadership, organisational practices, and emerging changes in the world of work.

Sub-themes include:

Consumer and organisational behaviour
Employee well-being
Work motivation and engagement
Leadership
Organisational culture
Workplace relationships
Occupational stress and burnout
Human resource practices
Work–life balance
Future of work and artificial intelligence

Track 6: Culture, Identity & Inclusion

This track examines the relationship between culture and psychological processes, highlighting diverse identities, lived experiences, inclusion, and culturally informed approaches to psychological research.

Sub-themes include:

Culture and psychological processes
Cross-cultural psychology
Indigenous concepts and perspectives
Identity and belonging
Disability and accessibility
Neurodiversity
Social inequality
Marginalised communities
Migration and acculturation

This track encourages researchers to consider cultural context when examining psychological theories and findings, and to engage critically with diverse and indigenous perspectives.

Track 7: The Future of Psychological Science

This track explores emerging directions in psychological research, innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary approaches, and the translation of scientific evidence into practice and policy.

Sub-themes include:

Emerging areas in psychology
Interdisciplinary psychological science
Innovative research methodologies
Replication and reproducibility
New approaches to behavioural research
AI-assisted psychological research
Ethics of emerging psychological technologies
Translating research into practice
Psychology and public policy

Date: February 26, 2027
Venue: CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Yeshwanthpur Campus.

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