Psychology and Society Group (PSG)
The Psychology and Society Group is hosted within the Department of Psychology and Professional Counseling at Webster Geneva Campus.
It brings together psychologists, counselors, sociologists and anthropologists whose research and practice focus on the relationships between individuals, groups, communities, and culture.
The Psychology and Society Group is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of sociocultural theories and research within a variety of applied fields in psychological science and connected sciences.
The aims of the PSG are:
- To advance the scientific study of individuals and society;
- To foster practices that contribute to personal and societal growth and well-being;
- To encourage multi-disciplinary thinking about complex issues;
- To serve the needs of local, national and international organizations and communities.
The PSG includes six research strands reflecting the diverse and vibrant research culture of the Department of Psychology and Professional Counseling.
These are:
Stress, trauma and well-being
This research strand focuses on a variety of topics within the stress, trauma and
well-being literature, including: PTSD recovery and post-traumatic growth, assisting
war victims through body work, mindfulness, stress, burnout and well-being in organizations,
emotion focused therapy, etc.
Mobility, migration and refugees
This research strand focuses on a variety of topics within the mobility, migration
and refugee literature, including: perspective-taking and refugees, automobility,
identity and sense of place, expat families, etc.
Development and family dynamics
This research strand focuses on a variety of topics within the development and family
dynamics literature, including: families in transition, attachment, family therapy,
child development, sexology, parenting practices, narcissistic mothers, transgenerational
transmission, couple therapy, etc.
Creativity, imagination and expressive arts
This research strand focuses on a variety of topics within the creativity, imagination
and expressive arts literature, including: textile work, photography, authorship,
art and narcissism, creative imagination, depth psychology, conceptual art, architecture
and psyche, emotion and expression, etc.
Tradition, spirituality and religion
This research strand focuses on a variety of topics within the tradition, spirituality
and religion literature, including: craft and craftsmanship, dreams and symbols, the
psychology of religion, Eastern traditions, psycho-spirituality, rituals and routines,
etc.
Each one of these strands includes several research topics and aims to produce both academic outputs (e.g., articles, chapters, conference presentations) and outreach activities, working with various organizations in the local community.
The PSG has monthly meetings that are open to all staff and students within the Department of Psychology and Professional Counseling as well as invited guests from other academic centers or organizations of interest for its members.
For more information about PSG, its research and outreach activities, please contact Geneva.psych@webster.edu