The pre-conference will be in room 32A in the San Diego Convention Center.

The Convention Center address is 111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.

The aim of this pre-conference is to examine the reciprocal relationship between health and psychology at a number of different levels of analysis.  Our speakers will present research that covers the diverse ways in which social and personality factors influence health, and health influences social and personality factors.

We are fortunate to have Sarah Pressman, John Updegraff, Janet Tomiyama, Howard Friedman and Jerry Suls who will all present cutting edge research at the intersection of social personality and health psychology.

The NCI keynote speaker will be Dr. Brian Wansink, presenting “Smarter Lunchrooms: From Mindless Eating to Mindlessly Eating Better.” Dr. Wansink is the director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab in the Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. His research focuses on the psychology behind what people eat and how often they eat it. He has been dubbed the “Food Psychologist” by ABC News and his work has been widely featured on such outlets as 20/20, The Learning Channel, and the front page of The New York Times.

This year's pre-conference will also feature a Social Policy Roundtable sponsored by the National Cancer Institute moderated by William Klein where leading researchers Cathy Backinger, Rob Ruiter, David Hammond, and Linda Cameron will discuss the US Department of Health and Human Services comprehensive tobacco control strategy that includes new warnings and graphics to be placed on tobacco labels beginning in late 2012.

And back by popular demand: the Data Blitz. Graduate students will have two minutes and two slides to present one of their research findings.

This is the second Social Personality and Health pre-conference organized by the Social Personality and Health Network. See last year’s schedule and event photos.