Welcome to the Psychology and Popular Culture community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

              

The Psychology and Popular Culture area concerns itself with the ways in which popular culture both reflects and shapes the nature of our psychology.  The area is accepting submissions for the 2025 annual conference to be held April 8-11, in Atlanta, GA.

 

The area invites all interested persons to present papers on a broad array of topics inclusive of psychology and popular culture, such as:

 

psychological theory, Jungian arts-based research, depth psychology, analytical psychology, archetypal psychology, psychiatry, mindfulness, cognitive psychology, psychoanalysis, critical theory, and interpretations of literature, film, gender theory, music, politics, or religion from a psychological perspective.

 

As examples of topics, the papers presented in previous years include:

 

“Cold -Hearted: An Analysis of Mr. Freeze Through the Lens of Moral Development ”

“ Viewing Modern Socioeconomic Issues through an Ancient Lens

 “In the Jaws of the Merman: Celebrity, Beauty and the Female Artist”

 “Rupture and Repair: A Look at Black Widow’s Messy Family”

 “Romantic Relationships in Loki: To Love Another, You Must Love Yourself First”

 “Sex Positivity in Sex Education”

 “Learning to Raise a Young One: The Mandalorian and Parent Coaching”

“ Social Exchange Theory as Evidenced by Greenleaf’s First Lady, Daisy Mae Greenleaf ”

 “The Surface Pressure Behind Birth Order: Exploring Notions of Middle Child Syndrome in Disney’s Encanto”

 “How Realistic are Recent American Media Portrayals of the Development of Expertise?”

 ‘“The Inner Light’: The Re-Membering of Soma in Star Trek: The Next Generation”

 

For consideration, please submit a 150-300 word abstract through the PCA website.  

https://pcaaca.org/page/submissionguidelines

 

For questions, please contact the area chair:

Margaret (Maggie) Mendenhall, PhD

margaretmendenhallphd@gmail.com

Long Beach, CA

 

 

Important Dates to Remember:

 

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

 

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

 

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026