The Current Migration Crisis In Europe

One of the most important social and policy issues facing the UK – the migration crisis in Europe – will be examined by academics from the UK and mainland Europe in a symposium in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Current Migration Crisis in Europe conference is a collaboration between Cardiff University and The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI-UK) and takes place from 30-31 August 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will gather distinguished social psychologists and policy specialists to focus on issues including the representation of migrants and asylum seekers in the media and public discourse, and how refugees emotionally integrate in societies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Keynote presentations will be given by Professor Batja Mesquita, Professor of Psychology at KU Leuven, Belgium, and Professor Steve Reicher, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Antony Manstead, Cardiff University’s School of Psychology and a member of SPSSI-UK’s Steering Committee is one of the conference organisers: “Europe is currently experiencing the largest movement of people since 1945, so it is timely and important that this conference is taking place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The conference programme will examine the social and psychological impact of the crisis, and explore the cultural and policy issues facing the UK in the current climate.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among the topics discussed at the symposium will be press constructions of ‘migration crisis’ in the UK, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Germany; the role of education in reducing prejudice toward immigrants; and psychological adjustment in British children from immigrant families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Dominic Abrams, University of Kent and Chair of SPSSI-UK’s Steering Committee explains: “SPSSI is the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, a division of the American Psychological Association and an international society in its own right. SPSSI members share a common interest in sharing the best psychological knowledge on important social issues with key policy agents in government and elsewhere. SPSSI-UK is a new development that SPSSI is sponsoring to underline its commitment to internationalise its contribution and to embrace the significant contribution that UK psychological research is able to make in wider international debates.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The conference is supported by the University’s Schools of Social Sciences and Psychology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​