The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Division 10: Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts will host its second annual research conference from March 13 to 15, 2025, in New Haven, Connecticut. The conference will showcase international perspectives on creativity, aesthetics, and the arts, convening interdisciplinary scholars from 11 countries to share their insights.
Jessica Hoffmann, secretary of APA Division 10 and one of the conference organizers, says, “I am thrilled to host the Division 10 membership in New Haven this year. We are an interdisciplinary group that explores everything from the benefits of art therapies to child art prodigies, how teams innovate, art museum engagement, creativity in education, and so much more. It is shaping up to be an inspirational two days!”
Attendees can expect keynote talks from international researchers, thematic symposia, individual presentations, a student showcase, and networking opportunities for early-career scholars. The conference will feature topics ranging from the emotional benefits of art and playfulness in mental health interventions to new tools for assessing creativity and enhancing well-being through creative practices. Presentations will explore areas such as human-AI collaboration, art-based interventions, and the psychophysiology of aesthetic experiences.
Among the presentations, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Senior Research Scientist Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, along with YCEI Postdoctoral Associate Rebekah Rodriguez-Boerwinkle, and collaborator Pablo Tinio (Professor, Montclair State University), will introduce a new psychometric tool for assessing how individuals reflect on their art experiences in their presentation, “Assessing Art Engagement: The Development of the Art Engagement Reflection Scale (AERS)." This tool, currently being developed as part of a research grant led by Principal Investigator Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, will be made freely available for use by researchers and museums once completed. More information about the “Mirror to the World: The Power of Art to Build Understanding and Creativity” grant, funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, can be found on ycei.org.
Rodriguez-Boerwinkle will also chair a symposium titled "Fostering Connection, Well-Being, and Emotional Insight in Art Experiences: From Museums to Interactive Installations.” Yifei Pei, YCEI Postgraduate Associate, will present "Cultural Differences in Aesthetic Judgments of Interior Spaces," exploring how cultural background influences preferences for curved surfaces in interior design.
Hoffmann notes that by hosting a standalone event in addition to participating in the large annual APA convention, Division 10 can offer more opportunities for both established and emerging early-career scholars to share their research, with a particular emphasis on supporting graduate students in gaining formative experiences presenting their work and networking with others in the field.
The conference will be hosted at the University of Nebraska at Omaha next year. For more details, visit the APA Division 10 website.