Moderator: Snežana Smederevac
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

The symposium Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Behavior brings together researchers from Serbia, Hungary, and Croatia who apply behavioral genetic, family, and evolutionary approaches to the study of individual differences. The papers address a diverse range of phenomena, from cognitive characteristics to personality, social attitudes, prejudice, and reproductive behavior. Particular attention is given to twin and family studies and their contribution to understanding the genetic and environmental sources of individual differences. The symposium also provides an opportunity to strengthen connections between research groups and foster international collaboration in the field.

Presentations:

Hungarian Twin Registry: A Population-Based Resource of Clinical Twin Studies – Adam Domonkos Tarnoki & David Laszlo Tarnoki

Comparing Twin and Family Designs as Tools for Understanding Individual Differences: A Case of Prejudice – Denis Bratko

HEXACO Personality Traits, Environment, and Fertility: Implications for Evolutionary Personality Ecology –Janko Međedović

Little Evidence of Shared Genetic and Environmental Influences Between Psychopathy Traits and Cognitive Functioning: A Twin Study – Bojana M. Dinić, Vojislava Bugarski & Željka Nikolašević

Mapping the Genetic and Environmental Links Between Personality and Social Attitudes: Evidence from a Twin Study – Selka Sadiković, Bojana M. Dinić, Dušanka Mitrović & Snežana Smederevac

Moderator: Milica Lazić
Language: Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin
Language of ppt: English

The symposium Identity Orientations and Adolescent Mental Health brings together four papers developed as part of the outcomes of the IDIOMATIC project, which aims to understand the contents of adolescents’ identity and their associations with subjective well-being, basic psychological needs, cultural context, and the dynamics of identity development. Drawing on the tetrapartite model of the self, the papers examine four identity orientations: personal, relational, collective, and public. The first three papers are based on longitudinal data collected from a large sample of adolescents in Serbia, whereas the fourth broadens the perspective through a cross-cultural study of adolescents from 32 countries. The first paper examines the associations between identity orientations and subjective well-being among adolescents in Serbia, operationalized through life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. The findings point to a particularly important role of collective identity orientation for positive indicators of well-being, while public identity orientation is associated with less favorable indicators of mental health. The second paper focuses on the stability of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and their relations with identity orientations. The results show that need satisfaction plays an important role in personal, relational, and collective identity orientations, whereas need frustration is relevant for public identity orientation. The third paper applies a network approach and exploratory graph analysis to longitudinal data, confirming the tetrapartite structure of identity, while also pointing to developmental changes and the role of the family context in shaping specific orientations. The fourth paper adopts a cross-cultural perspective and shows that personal and relational orientations are the most pronounced in most countries. At the same time, the findings indicate that interdependent self-construal cannot be reduced to a single dimension, but should instead be differentiated into relational, collective, and public aspects. In addition, higher collectivism was positively associated with collective identity orientation, but negatively associated with relational identity orientation, suggesting a complex relationship between cultural values and self-construal. Taken together, these papers show that adolescent identity cannot be understood solely in terms of the degree to which it is formed, but also through the contents by which young people define themselves. The findings highlight the importance of integrating developmental, motivational, cross-cultural, and network perspectives in research on adolescent identity and mental health.

Presentations:

Adolescents' Identity Orientations: A Network Approach – Vojana Obradović, Aleksandar Tomašević

Adolescents’ Identity Orientations and Individualism–Collectivism: A 30-Country Cross-Cultural Study – Milica Lazić, Veljko Jovanović

Adolescents’ Basic Psychological Needs: Stability and Associations with Identity Orientations – Dušana Šakan, Aleksandar Tomašević

Me, Us, and Others: Identity Orientations and Adolescent Well-Being – Marija Zotović-Kostić, Vesna Gavrilov-Jerković

Moderator: Marija Branković
Language: Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin
Language of ppt: English

Human-animal interactions are an innovative line of research within psychology that bears on several crucial psychological topics: how we perceive and relate to those who are different from us, how we build close interpersonal relationships, and even how our social identities influence dietary choices and, consequently, our health. Scientific research shows inextricable links between the health of animals and humans, including the effects of environmental pollution, the spread of zoonoses, and the health-related impacts of meat consumption. This symposium will highlight the links between the psychological and societal well-being of humans and other animals, showcasing various strands of research into human-animal interaction.

In response to a heated social issue, Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović will provide a critical review of animal-assisted interventions using dolphins as "therapists" to assist children with developmental difficulties.

Bojana Dinić will present a bibliometric analysis highlighting the latest research trends on violence against animals, which, according to research, frequently co-occurs with violence against humans.

Ivona Nađ will expand the classic psychological topic of close relationships by conducting a study on pet attachment, exploring differences in attachment and personality traits between cat and dog owners.

Finally, Marija Branković will present the results of an experimental test on whether traditionally plant-based meals are perceived differently when labeled as lenten or vegan, illustrating how identities and worldviews shape what we like to eat.

Presentations:

What Do Psychologists Say About Benefits of Dolphinariums – Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović & Anastasija Budžak

Trends in Research Related to Violence Against Animals: A Bibliometric Analysis – Bojana Dinić & Marija Branković

Who Owns What and Why? Differences in Attachment and Personality Among Pet Owners – Ivona Nađ

Traditional Vegan Dishes: A Potential Bridge Between Tradition and modern Nutritional Choices – Marija Branković & Anastasija Budžak

Moderator: Milica Popović Stijačić
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

The symposium Exploring Semantics: Diverse Psycholinguistic Perspectives brings together researchers from the field of psycholinguistics in Serbia whose work addresses different aspects of semantic processing and representation. It includes contributions ranging from research on large language models, embodiment theories, and perceptual and emotional dimensions of word meaning, to studies of polysemy, color-word associations, emotional word processing, and orthographic processing.

One of the topics addressed in the symposium is polysemy, a common phenomenon in language referring to words with multiple related meanings. The way the cognitive system processes such words remains a matter of debate, particularly regarding whether polysemous words are processed through a shared semantic representation or through separate representations for each meaning. Another important topic concerns embodiment theory and the role of perceptual and emotional information in conceptual representations. In this context, one study examines the influence of color on word processing, while another focuses on the role of emotions in semantic processing. Finally, the symposium addresses orthography as a perceptual aspect of words that influences cognitive processing and contributes to word representations.

The presented research covers a broad spectrum of methodological approaches, including lexical decision tasks, perceptual measures, computational modeling, and simulations. By integrating perspectives from cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, and computational modeling, the symposium aims to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary approaches to the study of semantics.

Presentations:

Modeling Polysemy Uncertainty: A Discrimination Learning Account – Ksenija Mišić

Modes of Polysemy and Their Effects in Cognitive Processing – Dušica Filipović Đurđević

The Emotional Experience of Words in Context: The Role of Local Emotional Cues and Cognitive Control – Aleksandra Stanimirović

Representation of Novel Word Orthography in a Bialphabetic Language – Lara Perić

Effects of Color-Word Congruency on Lexical Decision Times – Milica Popović Stijačić & Ivana Jakovljev

Moderator: Ilija Milovanović
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

Why does math still scare us, even when we know everything?

At the symposium Challenges and Perspectives in Mathematics Anxiety Research, six studies will present the latest findings on how math anxiety develops, changes, and affects achievement, from primary school students to university students, and from classic questionnaires to AI-based analysis of thousands of texts.

At the symposium you will, among other things, learn:

• why even top-performing students are often the most vulnerable to math anxiety
• what thousands of scientific papers on math anxiety reveal when "mapped" using AI text analysis
• how fear of math differs across cultures
• how motivation and self-regulation shape students' (lack of) success in university mathematics
• why anxiety sometimes "hurts" other subjects more than math itself
• what AI analysis of the Serbian internet reveals about how we talk about math

Presentations:

High Achievement, Fragile Identity: Mathematics Anxiety During the Transition to Subject Teaching – Katarina Mićić, Filip Savović

Mapping Math Anxiety Research: Insights from Structural Topic Modeling and Multidimensional Scaling – Petar Čolović, Luna Radević, Milica Maričić

Fear Of Evaluation, Math Anxiety, And Analytical Thinking: A Cross-Cultural Study on a Student Sample – Nikola Adamov, Ilija Milovanović

Motivational And Self-Regulatory Aspects Of Learning Mathematics at the University Level – Aleksandra Stevanović

Learning And Evaluation-Related Mathematics Anxiety Predict General But Not Mathematics Achievement at the End of Primary Education – Ivana Šargić, Siniša Subotić

Beyond Math Anxiety: Topic Modeling and Sentiment Analysis of Serbian-Language Discourse on Mathematics – Isidora Gatarić, Ilija Milovanović, Ivana Isailović

Moderator: Dragana Jelić
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

Burnout is one of the significant challenges of contemporary working life, and understanding it requires a broader perspective than simply considering workload and available resources. This symposium brings together five studies that examine burnout from different and complementary psychological perspectives. The studies address burnout assessment alongside psychological needs and employee characteristics, job demands arising from the nature of work and client relationships, as well as broader patterns of organizational behavior, such as conformity at work. Together, the studies provide a broader understanding of how burnout develops, the psychological and organizational factors that may contribute to it, and its consequences, while also pointing to more effective approaches to burnout prevention and intervention in organizations.

Presentations:

Burnout Assessment Tool Across Professional Contexts in Serbia – Milica Vukelić, Ivana B. Petrović, Svetlana Čizmić

Who Burns Out? Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Profiles Among Managers – Radojka Šolak, Dušana Šakan & Dragana Jelić

Client-Related Burnout in Mental Health Professionals: The Role of Job Demands and Job Resources – an ongoing study – Mina Velimirović, Marija Volarov, Milica Jakšić Kollarš & Dragana Jelić

Beyond Job Characteristics: Different Pathways to Burnout – Dragana Jelić, Jelena Matanović & Jelena Karapandžić

Facades of Conformity at Work: Burnout, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intention among Croatian Employees – Nina Šmuk, Zrinka Greblo Jurakić, Maša Tonković Grabovac

Moderator: Irena Bošković
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

This symposium, entitled Psychology of Crime, Law, and Order will consist of five oral presentations covering a variety of relevant topics. The investigated domains include both the general public exposed to violence and specific forensic and prison populations. We are sure that the attendees of this symposium will have an opportunity not only to learn more closely about the examined issues, but also to ask questions and gain additional insights. Therefore, we kindly invite conference visitors to join us!

Presentations:

The Dark Tetrad at Work: Social Relations and Psychological Distress Among Prison Correctional Officers – Anja Wertag

Short Psychopathy Rating Scale: Construct and Predictive Validity in a Sample of Prisoners – Janko Međedović

Dynamic Risk in Forensic Psychiatric Patients: Group and Individual Change on the STABLE-2007 in Flemish High-Security Settings – Marija Janković

Mental Health During Citizen Protests: Effects of Police and Parapolice Violence, Risk and Protective Factors – Jana Dimoski, Sara Dojčinović

Psychological Effects of Political Activism in Serbia – Irena Bošković

Moderator: Stanislava Popov
Language: Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin
Language of ppt: English

This symposium brings together studies examining psychological constructs and processes relevant to psychotherapy, mental health, and the understanding of therapeutic change. Conducted predominantly in general-population samples, the studies address constructs and transdiagnostic processes that play an important role in contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches, including self-acceptance, behavioral activation and avoidance, emotion regulation, impulse control, and irrational beliefs. Using contemporary research and statistical approaches, the studies examine complex relationships among these constructs, their associations with different aspects of psychological functioning, and their potential relevance to understanding and planning psychological interventions. Particular attention is given to bridging empirical findings and psychotherapeutic practice, including their potential contribution to case conceptualization, the identification of relevant processes, and the selection of intervention targets. The symposium also includes an evaluation of a group psychoeducational program integrating traditional statistical procedures with a contemporary network-based approach, providing an additional perspective on the investigation of potential mechanisms of psychological change.

Presentations:

Body, Self, and Behavior: How Self-Acceptance Transforms the Link Between Body Image and Health Habits – Novakov, I., Rakočević, N., & Popov, S.

Behavioral Activation, Avoidance, and Their Indirect Effects on Sleep Regulation through Relaxation States in – Miladinović, P., Milinović, M., & Popov, S.

Understanding Problematic Pornography Use: The Contribution of Emotion Regulation, Sexual Satisfaction, and Impulse Control – Zdravković Adamović, S., & Kuruzović, N.

Irrational Beliefs as a Mechanism of Change in an Unconditional Self-Acceptance Psychoeducational Program: Traditional and Network-Based Evaluation of Psychological Functioning in Adolescents – Belopavlović, R., & Popov, S.

Moderator: Jelica Petrović
Language: Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin
Language of ppt: English

Aging represents one of the most significant developmental and social challenges of the contemporary era. The extension of life expectancy, demographic changes, and altered patterns of the life course require a new understanding of the aging process, one that goes beyond its traditional conceptualization through chronological age, health status, and functional limitations.

The shared idea of the papers gathered in this symposium is the understanding of aging as a continuous developmental process, whose outcomes are shaped by the interplay of individual psychological resources and the social context. From this developmental perspective, aging is viewed as a dynamic process of adaptation, in which quality of life is determined not solely by biological changes, but also by the way an individual understands their own development, employs their psychological potentials, and responds to the demands of the social environment. Building on this framework, the symposium brings together theoretical and empirical papers that seek to address the following questions:

• What do we mean by aging today? How do chronological, biological, subjective, and social age relate, and what happens when these dimensions do not align?
• Which psychological resources enable successful adaptation in later life? What is the role of life satisfaction, meaning in life, resilience, depressive symptoms, and negative affect in differentiating profiles of successful versus challenged aging?
• How do lifestyle factors and psychosocial resources contribute to various aspects of successful aging? To what extent do physical activity and sedentary behavior, compared to optimism, resilience, and social support, explain objective and subjective indicators of successful aging?
• How do older adults construct meaning in life and their orientation toward the future? What are the dominant sources of meaning in later life, and how does the perspective on future planning change?
• What are the causes and consequences of age discrimination? How do stereotypes and prejudices about aging affect the mental health and social position of older individuals?
• What does active aging look like in specific institutional contexts? Which sociodemographic, psychological, and health factors contribute to active aging among residents of homes for the accommodation and care of the elderly?

By integrating diverse theoretical approaches and methodological perspectives, the symposium offers a comprehensive view of the psychological processes that shape aging and contributes to understanding the factors that support the preservation of mental health, quality of life, and successful adaptation in the second half of life.

Presentations:

How Old Are We Really? Between Chronological, Biological, Subjective, and Social Age – Jelena Opsenica Kostić

The Anatomy of Successful Aging: What Really Makes the Difference? – Jelica Petrović & Marija Zotović

Lifestyle Factors and Psychosocial Resources as Predictors of Some Aspects of Successful Ageing – Marina Nekić, Ivana Tucak Junaković, Neala Ambrosi Randić

Living the Life that Matters: Older Adults' Meaning in Life and Plans for the Future – Ivana Tucak Junaković & Neala Ambrosi-Randić

Age Discrimination: Causes and Consequences – Jelena Minić

Active Ageing Among Residents of Nursing Homes – Nina Brkić-Jovanović, Nataša Egeljić-Mihailović & Dragana Milutinović

Moderator: Oliver Tošković
Language: English
Language of ppt: English

Virtual reality (VR) has rapidly evolved from a technological novelty into a powerful scientific tool, enabling researchers to investigate psychological processes with an unprecedented combination of experimental control and ecological validity. By creating immersive, interactive, and highly realistic environments, VR allows the study of perception, emotion, cognition, personality, and behavior in situations that would be difficult, costly, or ethically impossible to reproduce in the physical world. At the same time, the increasing integration of virtual experiences into everyday life raises important questions about the similarities and differences between psychological functioning in real and virtual environments.
This symposium presents six complementary studies demonstrating the breadth of contemporary psychological research employing VR. The contributions examine behavioral, physiological, and affective responses to virtual threat; the application of VR in understanding psychopathic traits and childhood behavioral problems; the induction and measurement of fear and anxiety in immersive environments; comparisons between experiences of real and virtual architectural spaces; the ecological validity of aesthetic experience in virtual reality; and the influence of virtual environments on spatial perception, including perceived distance, depth cues, and emotional meaning. Together, these studies highligh VR as both a methodological innovation and a unique context for investigating human experience.
By integrating perspectives from experimental psychology, personality psychology, developmental psychology, architecture, and empirical aesthetics, the symposium illustrates how virtual environments can deepen our understanding of psychological mechanisms while informing practical applications. The presented findings also encourage a broader discussion on the opportunities, limitations, and future directions of VR research, emphasizing the importance of evaluating when virtual experiences faithfully reproduce reality and when they reveal distinctive aspects of human perception and behavior. Together, these contributions demonstrate that virtual reality is not merely a substitute for real-world experimentation, but a distinctive research platform that expands the methodological and theoretical horizons of psychological science.

Presentations:

When the Bridge Collapses: Individual Differences in Behavioral, Physiological, and Affective Responses to Virtual Threat – Dejan Pajić

Beyond the Mask: VR Insights into Psychopathic Traits and Childhood Behavioral Challenges – Silvija Ručević

Exploring Fear and Anxiety-Related Emotional States Through Virtual Reality – Dino Krupić

When Reality Matters: Comparing Experience of Real and Virtual Architectural Objects – Danira Sovilj, Vladimir Kovač, Oliver Tošković

Unbound Beauty: Ecological Validity of Art Experience in VR – Dragan Janković

From Reality to Virtuality: Effects of Distance, Depth Cues, and Emotional Meaning of Stimuli on Perceived Distance Anisotropy – Oliver Tošković