Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference

2014 will mark the 49th year in which the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference (MUPC) has been held.  MUPC is the oldest undergraduate psychology conference in the United States.  The conference provides a forum for the presentation of original research, applications, and conceptual papers by undergraduates in psychology from around the state and surrounding areas.  Since 1980, Bemidji State psychology students have made a major contribution to the conference.  In that time, BSU students have presented 42% of all of the papers presented by Minnesota State University students and have made more total presentations than any other public institution.  BSU hosted the conference in 1983, with Dr. John Conger (past president of the American Psychological Association) as the keynote speaker and in 2005, with Dr. Ed Donnerstein (University of Arizona) as the keynote speaker.

MUPC will be hosted by
Bethel University in 2014

On April 20, 2013, the 48th annual Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference was held at University of St. Thomas.  Six Bemidji State University psychology students attended and made presentations along with Drs. Keith Gora, Richard Hook, and Jim Rafferty.  As can be seen, the Bemidji State University students presented five papers on topics ranging from distracted driving and a philosopher’s influence on psychology to effects of laughter on mood.  Dr. Sarah Gervais (University of Nebraska - Lincoln) gave the keynote address, “Ogling, beer goggles, and Lady Gaga:  The causes and consequences of the objectifying gaze.”

Ali, Ginni; Anderson, Joseph;  Faber, Kylie; Frisch, Sarah;  Knieff, Joshua; Mohan, Vinesh; Oja, Kaisa; & Ritter, Hans.  It can W8: An intervention to decrease distracted driving on campus.

Hensel, Zane.  An analysis on trait narcissism in relation to Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Hensel, Zane.  The life of Soren Kierkegaard and his contributions to the development of an individualized psychology.
   
Oja, Kaisa.  Memory reminiscence and social interaction in the elderly.

Terhaar,  Megan.  The sights and sounds of laughter and the induction of positive moods.