Reports from abroad

 

The 17^th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Personality Psychology.

 

Atsushi Oshio (Chubu University, Japan)

 

The annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Personality Psychology was held on November 15 and 16, 2008, at Ochanomizu University, which is one of the most famous and historic women’s universities in Japan. Approximately 300 participants came together for the meeting from all over Japan.

There were three visiting speakers. First, Dr. Craig A. Anderson, distinguished professor from Iowa State University, discussed the relationship between violence in the media and the development of an aggressive personality. Second, Dr. Tamotsu Fujinaga, Professor Emeritus, Ochanomizu University, explained language and translation problems related to personality psychology. Third, Dr. Dan P. McAdams, professor from Northwestern University, addressed generativity and the redemptive self.

A seminar conducted by Dr. McAdams entitled “New Big Five: Fundamental Principles for an Integrative Science of Personality,” was also part of the meeting. Professor Kaoru Kurosawa from Toyo University offered the perspective of the adaptive unconscious in social cognitive psychology. In addition, professor Tatsuya Sato from Ritsumeikan University provided insight on the object of narrative and cultural psychology. Our discussions were lively, and acting as host of this wonderful seminar gave me a great experience.

Furthermore, our meeting included 12 symposia, 20 oral presentations, and 94 poster presentations. In 2008, we increased the total number of presentations from 80 at the 2007 meeting to 114.

The symposia covered a wide range of topics related to personality psychology. Some examples include “Personality Studies at a Crossroad: Past, Present, and Future,” “Mobile Research: A New Possibility for Personality Studies,” “Why Do People Commit Crime?” “Developmental Support in Light of the Personalities of Children with Developmental Diseases/Disorders,” and “Personality Psychology in Medical Psychology.”

The oral and poster presentations covered the broader research areas of personality. Some of the keywords of the presentations were cell phone, the Internet, attitudes toward robots, emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, social anxiety, personality disorder, the level and stability of self-esteem, eating behavior, generativity, human strength, attachment, friendship, club activities, laterality, etc. As in previous years, about half of the presentations were made by graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Several of the presenters will be awarded for their excellent presentations, and the winners will be announced soon.

The next meeting will be held on November 28 and 29, 2009, at Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare (http://www.kawasaki-m.ac.jp/mw/lang/about-kumw_English.pdf) located in Okayama prefecture, in the midwestern region of Japan. Professor Masaharu Terasaki is chairing the organization committee.

 

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