Registrations for the 2025 BAPS Annual Meeting will be open from the 28th of March until (and including) the 25th of April 2025.
Your registration includes access to the conference on Monday 26th of May 2025 and Tuesday 27th of May 2025.
Early bird registration will be available until the 11th of April 2025. Normal registration rates apply as from the 12th of April 2025. If you are not yet a member of BAPS, we recommend that you become a member to enjoy reduced registration rates. Registration rates will be detailed here soon.
Early bird registration will be available until the 11th of April 2025. Normal registration rates apply as from the 12th of April 2025. If you are not yet a member of BAPS, we recommend that you become a member to enjoy reduced registration rates. Registration rates will be detailed here soon.
Venue
Keynote Speakers
The battle of grievances: Consolidating the impact of intergroup competitive victimhood and charting new directions
Prof. Dr. Masi Noor
In this talk, I will review and update my work on intergroup competitive victimhood (CV). This concept refers to efforts by members of conflicting groups to assert that their group has suffered more than their adversaries. While my work on this concept began in 2008, CV was formally introduced in 2012 (Noor et al., PSPR), where we established its theoretical foundation, distinguished it from related constructs, explored its psychological drivers, and examined its consequential implications for intergroup relations. The first part of my talk will provide an overview of the growing body of literature inspired by CV, including findings from our latest meta-analysis encompassing over 37,000 participants across 51 studies. In the second part, I will chart new directions by arguing that CV is far more multifaceted than previously assumed. I will present new evidence demonstrating that CV manifests not only in direct competition but also in subtler, yet equally potent, forms: denying outgroup suffering, blaming the outgroup for their plight, demanding recognition of ingroup suffering, and moralising the ingroup’s victimhood. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of CV’s complexity and its consequences for intergroup relations. In the final section, I will share my vision for social psychology as an evolving field, addressing questions of relevance and diversity.
Bio
I was born and raised in Afghanistan before emigrating to Germany as a child, where I completed my secondary education (Abitur). As a young adult, I moved to Northern Ireland to work as a community and youth worker, arriving in the same year that the Good Friday Agreement was signed. This pivotal experience inspired me to pursue a BSc in Applied Psychology at the University of Ulster. I spent a year in Oxford conducting research before embarking on my PhD at the University of Sussex, under the wonderful supervision of Rupert Brown. I am currently an Associate Professor at Keele University. I publish as often as I can, but just as important to me is supporting others in their publishing journeys. I have served in different editorial journals and recently completed my term as one of the Editors-in-Chief of the European Journal of Social Psychology. I co-founded the online Forgiveness Toolbox (visited by individuals from over 180 countries) and co-authored an illustrated graphic book based on the science and stories of forgiveness, entitled: ‘Forgiveness Is Really Strange’. I speak Farsi, German, and English, and I’m currently enjoying the challenge of learning Spanish. Thank you for your kind invitation and for taking the time to attend my talk—I truly appreciate it.
A cross-species approach to the mechanisms of vicarious (emotional) states
Prof. Dr. Valeria Gazzola
How does our brain make us feel what others feel, and how does this feeling influence our (pro-social) decisions? Are humans the only species able to feel others’ emotions? During my talk, I will walk you through rodent and human work that shows a common neuronal substrate in response to our own as well as other people's emotional state. In humans, the somatosensory, insular, and cingulate cortices are activated both when experiencing pain and while witnessing others doing so. The cingulate cortex shows similar responses in rodents as well, with individual neurons responding both to the self-experience of pain and the pain of a conspecific. I will then bring evidence showing that such vicarious activations have causal influences on sharing the emotions of others and on deciding to help others. The homologies between humans and rodents suggest that emotion sharing is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that allows animals and humans to better prepare for yet unseen dangers by tuning into the state of those that have already detected them. At the end of the talk, I will also present work on psychopathic criminals and healthy volunteers that highlights both voluntary and involuntary modulation of vicarious activity, suggesting we have control on how much we recruit such brain circuits and processes. Empathy does not just happen to us: we can choose (or not) to empathize.
Bio
Valeria Gazzola studied Biology in Parma – Italy – and started her scientific career in Rizzolatti's lab, where mirror neurons where first recorded. She then moved to the Netherlands where her PhD and postdoctoral research established that somatosensory cortices, normally involved in processing the sensations on our body, play a critical role in social cognition, extending her work from action-related mirror responses to the domain of sensation and emotions. In 2010 she moved to Amsterdam, where she leads the Mechanisms of Social Behavior group at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience of the KNAW and is an associate professor at the University of Amsterdam. Her research, financed by National and European grants, investigates the causal relationship between mirror-like activity and pro- and anti- social behavior by using a combination of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), EEG (electrical encephalography), tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). By using similar paradigms across species, she also explores how brain processes involved in vicariously feel with others are evolutionary preserved. Her highly collaborative attitude and passion for team science is evident by her involvement work in two national consortia, the Dutch Brain Interface Initiative (DBI2) and Growing Up Together In Society (GUTS) consortia, and international collaborations, which include the Sandfort Institute for Empathy and Compassion. With her work she tried to place her group and collaborators at the forefront of an effort to critically assess the relationship between brain regions associated with empathy and actual social behavior.
Prof. Dr. Masi Noor
In this talk, I will review and update my work on intergroup competitive victimhood (CV). This concept refers to efforts by members of conflicting groups to assert that their group has suffered more than their adversaries. While my work on this concept began in 2008, CV was formally introduced in 2012 (Noor et al., PSPR), where we established its theoretical foundation, distinguished it from related constructs, explored its psychological drivers, and examined its consequential implications for intergroup relations. The first part of my talk will provide an overview of the growing body of literature inspired by CV, including findings from our latest meta-analysis encompassing over 37,000 participants across 51 studies. In the second part, I will chart new directions by arguing that CV is far more multifaceted than previously assumed. I will present new evidence demonstrating that CV manifests not only in direct competition but also in subtler, yet equally potent, forms: denying outgroup suffering, blaming the outgroup for their plight, demanding recognition of ingroup suffering, and moralising the ingroup’s victimhood. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of CV’s complexity and its consequences for intergroup relations. In the final section, I will share my vision for social psychology as an evolving field, addressing questions of relevance and diversity.
Bio
I was born and raised in Afghanistan before emigrating to Germany as a child, where I completed my secondary education (Abitur). As a young adult, I moved to Northern Ireland to work as a community and youth worker, arriving in the same year that the Good Friday Agreement was signed. This pivotal experience inspired me to pursue a BSc in Applied Psychology at the University of Ulster. I spent a year in Oxford conducting research before embarking on my PhD at the University of Sussex, under the wonderful supervision of Rupert Brown. I am currently an Associate Professor at Keele University. I publish as often as I can, but just as important to me is supporting others in their publishing journeys. I have served in different editorial journals and recently completed my term as one of the Editors-in-Chief of the European Journal of Social Psychology. I co-founded the online Forgiveness Toolbox (visited by individuals from over 180 countries) and co-authored an illustrated graphic book based on the science and stories of forgiveness, entitled: ‘Forgiveness Is Really Strange’. I speak Farsi, German, and English, and I’m currently enjoying the challenge of learning Spanish. Thank you for your kind invitation and for taking the time to attend my talk—I truly appreciate it.
A cross-species approach to the mechanisms of vicarious (emotional) states
Prof. Dr. Valeria Gazzola
How does our brain make us feel what others feel, and how does this feeling influence our (pro-social) decisions? Are humans the only species able to feel others’ emotions? During my talk, I will walk you through rodent and human work that shows a common neuronal substrate in response to our own as well as other people's emotional state. In humans, the somatosensory, insular, and cingulate cortices are activated both when experiencing pain and while witnessing others doing so. The cingulate cortex shows similar responses in rodents as well, with individual neurons responding both to the self-experience of pain and the pain of a conspecific. I will then bring evidence showing that such vicarious activations have causal influences on sharing the emotions of others and on deciding to help others. The homologies between humans and rodents suggest that emotion sharing is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that allows animals and humans to better prepare for yet unseen dangers by tuning into the state of those that have already detected them. At the end of the talk, I will also present work on psychopathic criminals and healthy volunteers that highlights both voluntary and involuntary modulation of vicarious activity, suggesting we have control on how much we recruit such brain circuits and processes. Empathy does not just happen to us: we can choose (or not) to empathize.
Bio
Valeria Gazzola studied Biology in Parma – Italy – and started her scientific career in Rizzolatti's lab, where mirror neurons where first recorded. She then moved to the Netherlands where her PhD and postdoctoral research established that somatosensory cortices, normally involved in processing the sensations on our body, play a critical role in social cognition, extending her work from action-related mirror responses to the domain of sensation and emotions. In 2010 she moved to Amsterdam, where she leads the Mechanisms of Social Behavior group at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience of the KNAW and is an associate professor at the University of Amsterdam. Her research, financed by National and European grants, investigates the causal relationship between mirror-like activity and pro- and anti- social behavior by using a combination of fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), EEG (electrical encephalography), tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). By using similar paradigms across species, she also explores how brain processes involved in vicariously feel with others are evolutionary preserved. Her highly collaborative attitude and passion for team science is evident by her involvement work in two national consortia, the Dutch Brain Interface Initiative (DBI2) and Growing Up Together In Society (GUTS) consortia, and international collaborations, which include the Sandfort Institute for Empathy and Compassion. With her work she tried to place her group and collaborators at the forefront of an effort to critically assess the relationship between brain regions associated with empathy and actual social behavior.
Invited Symposia
The BAPS 2025 Annual Meeting will feature several invited symposia on topics spanning various domains in psychological science. These symposia will take place on the 26th and 27th of May. You can find an overview of all invited symposia here:
Collective memories, group-based emotions, and intergroup relations
Chairs - Anouk Smeekes (Utrecht University, NL) & Laurent Licata (ULB)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Can digital tools help bridge the inequality gap in health? Insights from health literacy, reach, acceptability and efficacy
Chair - Ann DeSmet (ULB, UA)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
A social and neuroscience approach to intergroup biases in peace and post-conflict societies
Chair - Emilie Caspar (UGent)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Neurocomputational underpinnings of monitoring and control
Chair - Kobe Desender (KU Leuven)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Raising children in a changing social world: How the sociocultural context shapes parenting
Chair - Stijn Van Petegem (ULB)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Fear and discrimination among forensic patients
Chair - Thierry Pham (UMons)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
TBA
Chair - Annalisa Casini (UCLouvain)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
TBA
Chair - TBA
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Presenters - TBA
(abstract coming soon)
Social Events
In addition to the various sessions and activities that we will offer during the conference (see Program), two social events will be organized for you.
On Monday 26th of May, after the last session of the day, a free reception will take place at the conference venue (from 6.30 to 8.30 pm).
On Tuesday 27th of May, the BAPS Junior Board invites you to conclude our annual meeting over drinks in Brussels (the location will be announced soon). Please note that while the reception is free, any food and drinks consumed at this second event will have to be covered by yourself.
On Monday 26th of May, after the last session of the day, a free reception will take place at the conference venue (from 6.30 to 8.30 pm).
On Tuesday 27th of May, the BAPS Junior Board invites you to conclude our annual meeting over drinks in Brussels (the location will be announced soon). Please note that while the reception is free, any food and drinks consumed at this second event will have to be covered by yourself.
