In recognition of Salem’s unique history and cultural legacy as “Witch City,” the New England Psychological Association invites submissions for special themed sessions at the 2026 Annual Conference. This session will highlight scholarly work that explores psychological research or applied practice related to horror, witchcraft, the occult, paranormal beliefs, folklore, superstition, fear, and the macabre. We welcome empirical studies, theoretical papers, posters, and creative interdisciplinary approaches that examine how these topics intersect with psychology and Salem’s cultural theme.

NEPA Priority Submission Deadline: February 1, 2026, through August 1, 2026, for symposia, papers, and posters representing all areas of the psychological sciences. NEPA will continue to receive and review posters through September 1, 2026.

Areas of interest could include (but are not limited to):

• Psychological processes underlying fear, horror, and suspense
• Social psychology of witch trials, moral panic, and mass hysteria
• Cognitive and perceptual factors in paranormal belief and experiences
• Folklore, mythology, and collective memory from a psychological lens
• Developmental perspectives on fear, monsters, and the supernatural
• Clinical or counseling perspectives on supernatural beliefs
• Media psychology: horror films, games, literature, and their impact
• Historical or cross-cultural analyses of witchcraft and supernatural traditions
• Public perceptions, stigma, and the psychology of the “witch” archetype
• Community-based or place-based psychological research specific to Salem

Submission Types:

• Research Papers: Completed empirical or theoretical work
• Posters: Empirical studies, works-in-progress, student research
• Symposia or Panels: Thematic conversations among multiple presenters

To be reviewed, paper and poster submissions must include the following content:

• Title and list of authors and affiliations.
• Short abstract of 5 to 500 words summarizing the research concept, the methods, and the main findings.
• Long abstract of 250 to 2,500 words with separate sections that clearly state the:
• Research problem and hypotheses.
• Methodology.
• Results or findings with statistical tests (e.g., means and standard deviations) embedded within
explanations, where appropriate.
• Implications of the results within the context of the stated problem and hypotheses.

A Symposium submission should include the following content:

• Title and list of authors and affiliations.
• Short abstract of up to 500 words summarizing the themes and goals of the session and the audience for
which the symposium is intended.
• Long abstract of 250 to 2,500 words summarizing each presenter’s contribution to the submission and
expertise to participate in the symposium.

All proposals must be submitted using the NEPA Submission Portal below

Email nepsychological@gmail.com with any questions

If you are choosing a themed session, make sure you indicate that when you submit.