Leadership & Service
Service Mission
Although existential psychology has roots stretching back to the existentialist philosophy of the 1840s, the various methods and technologies of modern psychological science were not applied to the topic until about the 1980s. Since then, the science of existential psychology has been gradually—though unsystematically—developing into an identifiable area of contemporary psychological science.
My primary service mission is to advance the systematic development of the science of existential psychology.
“My primary service mission is to advance the systematic development of the science of existential psychology.”
My pursuit of that mission has involved:
Co-founding a new scientific society for that purpose, the International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology (ISSEP);
President of ISSEP since 2020;
A variety of other organizational roles in the field;
Organizing annual full-day conference events and symposiums;
Establishing annual grants and awards to stimulate advances in the science of existential psychology;
Establishing funding programs to expand the diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) in the science of existential psychology;
Advancing teaching and learning by curating a collection of high quality pedagogical materials, made free and publicly available;
Communicating the value of the science of existential psychology to the field and to the public.
International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology (ISSEP)
Founder, President, & other service roles
Dr. Vail is the lead Co-Founder and President of the International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology (est. 2019), with the overarching mission to support and encourage the research, communication, and application of the science of existential psychology. ISSEP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public educational charity, with a 16-member Board of Directors. Dr. Vail developed ISSEP’s systematic programs to advance its mission and, in 2020, secured external funding to begin implementing those programs. He now formally serves the field, through this new organization, in a variety of leadership roles:
Co-Founder: Established fall 2019
Board of Directors: Member
President: 2020-present
Executive Committee: Chairperson
Program Committee: Chairperson
Task force for pedagogical advancement: Chairperson
Grants & Awards Committee: Chairperson
Governance, Nominating, and Membership Committee: Member
Conference Events & Symposia
Conference Event Co-Creator & Co-Organizer – Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference.
In 2019, Dr. Vail took the lead in co-creating the annual SPSP Preconference event dedicated to the science of existential psychology (interview about it here), attached to the annual meeting of the largest society of personality and social psychologists (SPSP) in the world. The Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference is a full-day conference event including Keynotes, Special Addresses, Invited Research Talks, Poster Sessions, Data Blitz sessions, Social Events, and sponsored awards. Dr. Vail has served as lead co-organizer of each annual Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference.
Drs. Rich Ryan and Ken Vail at the 2019 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference.
2023 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference (Atlanta, GA)
2022 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference (San Francisco, CA)
2021 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference (Austin, TX)
2020 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference (New Orleans, LA)
2019 Existential Psychology SPSP Preconference (Portland, OR)
Symposium Organizer & Chairperson
Dr. Vail has also taken the lead in organizing symposia sessions at some of the largest annual meetings of psychological scientists, as follows:
2019, August. Existential psychology and mental health. Society for Personality and Social Psychology. New Orleans, LA.
2018, August. Defense or growth? Autism, PTSD, meditation, and openness alter responses to thoughts of death. American Psychological Association. San Francisco, CA.
2018, May. Terror mismanagement: Intersecting death awareness and existential motivational processes with autism, PTSD, OCD, and social anxiety. Association of Psychological Science. San Francisco, CA.
2017, August. To religion and beyond: How existential threat impacts religious and non-religious belief. American Psychological Association. Washington, DC.
Funding for Researchers — Grants & Awards
Creator & Chairperson – ISSEP Research Grants Program.
Dr. Vail developed ISSEP’s annual “Seed Grants” program to fund inexpensive but well-designed and well-powered studies advancing the science of existential psychology. Projects are funded annually, each November.
Maximum funding per project proposal is $3,000
Multiple projects may be funded each annual cycle (up to $15,000 disbursed each year).
2022: Funded five research projects, each led by student and early-career PIs (see ISSEP website for PIs & titles).
2023: Funded five research projects, each led by student and early-career PIs (see ISSEP website for PIs & titles).
Creator & Chairperson – ISSEP Annual Awards Program.
Dr. Vail developed ISSEP’s Annual Awards program to incentivize and recognize excellent contributions to the science of existential psychology. Each year, ISSEP makes the following funded awards.
Innovation in Existential Psychology Award
Recognizes conference presentations that: (1) apply an existential lens to new or under-researched topics; (2) develop new theoretical perspectives in an existing existential psych research area; or (3) creatively apply empirical methods to study existential topics in new ways.
$250 cash award.
Recognizes excellent peer-reviewed journal articles.
$500 cash award.
Recognizes excellent student contributions.
$500 cash award.
Early Career Contributions Award
Recognizes excellent contributions by early-career professionals (< 10 years in career).
$1,000 cash award, commemorative plaque.
Distinguished Career Contributions Award
Recognizes excellent contributions by distinguished-career professionals (> 10 years in career).
$1,000 cash award, commemorative plaque.
Expanding Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) in Existential Psychology
Creator & Chairperson – ISSEP Conference Awards Program.
Dr. Vail developed ISSEP’s Conference Awards program to establish reliable funding to support the inclusion of diverse student scholars from under-represented groups. Cash awards are given to cover the registration costs for student researchers, with preference given to those of under-represented or historically disadvantaged groups considering (ADDRESSING Model; Hays, 2008) age, developmental and/or acquired disability, minority religious perspective, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, indigenous heritage, national origin, and sex/gender.
Pedagogical Advancement
Creator & Chairperson – ISSEP’s Task Force for Pedagogical Advancement
Dr. Vail developed the Task Force for Pedagogical Advancement (1) to help educators teach courses on the science of existential psychology and (2) to help students and the public learn more about the topic. The task force has developed original materials, solicited the field for materials, and presents a curated collection of key resources for teaching and learning about the science of existential psychology, including the following:
Over 40 high quality, downloadable syllabi on a wide variety of course topics.
Dozens of recommended textbooks, handbooks and edited volumes, and popular books.
A selection of relevant teaching resources and aids.
A selection of award-winning documentary films and video series.
Each of these pedagogical materials are carefully curated, edited, and freely available for the purpose of helping to advance the teaching and learning of the science of existential psychology.
Communicating the Science
Guest Editor – Special Issues at Peer-Reviewed Journals
Religion, Brain, and Behavior
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (two-issue spread)
Creator & Editor — Invited articles for public audiences
Dr. Vail recruits expert contributors to further communicate the value of the science of existential psychology for public audiences. Contributors receive a cash honorarium and Dr. Vail edits and produces these engaging pieces.
2021: Edited for 13 articles (view here).
2022: Edited for 9 articles (view here).
2023: Edited for a variety of articles (view here).
Author — Interviews about researchers, theory, and data
Dr. Vail interviews up-and-coming researchers to highlight their path of entry to the field, discuss theory and research, and educate the public about the importance of the science of existential psychology for better understanding the world.
2021: Authored 14 articles (see “Spreading the Science”).
2022: Authored 10 articles (see “Spreading the Science”).
2023: Authored 3 articles (see “Spreading the Science”).
Author — Articles highlighting Dr. Vail’s own research
Dr. Vail also writes articles about his own research in existential psychology, highlighting the value of his SPEAR Lab research findings for better understanding the world—from politics and religion to pop-culture.
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