Two profiles, barbed wire, and a dove symbolizing conflict and peace

A Psycho-Social Exploration: Unravelling the Psyche of Violence

Why War? Why Violence?

Sukrut’s 9th International Conference, organised in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (IIPR), brings together researchers, psychologists, educators, practitioners, students and professionals to explore the psychological and social forces behind aggression, violence and war.

20–21November 2027

Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (IIPR), Bengaluru, India

Submit Your Abstract Download Conference Brochure Register for the Conference

Understanding Conflict, Violence & Healing

Decoding the Mind Behind the Conflict

Why do individuals, groups and societies turn towards aggression and violence? How are conflict, exclusion and collective trauma experienced—and how can communities move towards healing? The conference seeks to foster meaningful dialogue across disciplines, methodologies and forms of knowledge. It welcomes conceptual, empirical, clinical, historical, ethnographic, creative and practice-based perspectives. Contributors are encouraged to engage with the ambiguity, contradiction and complexity surrounding violence while generating new questions, perspectives and pathways towards understanding, prevention and recovery.

Key Discussion Areas

Conference Sub-Themes

1. Understanding Aggression, Violence and War

Explore the origins, dynamics and manifestations of aggression, violence and war across individual, social, cultural, political, evolutionary and historical contexts.

Psychoanalytic perspectives on aggression and violence
Biological, developmental and cognitive roots of violence
Radicalisation
Institutional and structural violence
Propaganda and political polarisation
Religion, politics and conflict
Collective memory and intergenerational trauma
Socio-economic drivers of conflict

2. Lived Experience of Violence

Examine how aggression and violence are experienced, negotiated, resisted and reproduced in everyday life.

Violence within families and intimate relationships
Workplace and organisational conflict
Gender, sexuality and identity
Prejudice, discrimination and exclusion
Microaggressions
Vulnerability and belonging
Domination, resistance and care

3. Consequences of Aggression, Violence and War

Understand the enduring psychological, social, institutional and economic effects of violence on individuals and communities.

Trauma and PTSD
Grief, loss and displacement
Resilience and recovery
Experiences of veterans and survivors
Collective suffering
Social disruption
Memory and mourning
Post-conflict reconstruction

4. Prevention, Intervention and Rehabilitation

Explore pathways towards healing, peacebuilding, rehabilitation and social repair.

Crisis intervention
Rehabilitation and restorative practices
Deradicalisation
Community-based responses
Governance and policy initiatives
Resilience-building
Psychoeducation
Conflict transformation

Abstract submission and research illustration

Call for Abstracts

Researchers, academicians, psychologists, practitioners, students and professionals are invited to submit abstracts for empirical or conceptual papers addressing any of the conference themes.

Selected applicants will be invited to submit their full papers and present their work during the conference.

Submit your abstract to:

[email protected]

Travel and accommodation support may be available upon request.

Submit Your Abstract

Conference Timeline

Important Dates

MilestoneDate

Registrations Open

August 1st, 2026

Abstract Submissions Open

September 2026

Abstract Submission Deadline

30 April 2027

Acceptance Notifications

January–June 2027

Early-Bird Registration Closes

30th July 2027

Full Paper Submission Deadline

31 August 2027

Conference

20–21 November 2027

Fee Categories

Registration Fees

CategoryEarly-Bird FeeRegular Fee

Students₹1,500₹2,000

Research Scholars₹2,000₹2,500

Faculty Members and Professionals₹2,500₹3,000

Publish Your Research with Us

Publication Opportunity

Selected papers will be considered for publication following the applicable peer-review and editorial process.

Who Should Attend?

Psychology and social-science students
Research scholars
Psychologists and psychotherapists
Educators and academicians
Mental-health professionals
Social workers and community practitioners
Policy professionals
Professionals working in conflict resolution and rehabilitation

Meet the Organizing Team

Conference Leadership

Chief Patrons

Dr. Elizabeth Jasmine

Prof. Manab Bose

Conveners

Education, Research, and Impact

About IIPR

The Indian Institute of Psychology and Research is a leading institution for psychology education and research in Bengaluru. IIPR offers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes and is committed to academic excellence, value-based learning and inclusive education.

About Sukrut

Sukrut is a psychotherapy, training and research organisation dedicated to advancing psychoanalytic and relational understandings of individuals, groups, organisations and communities through clinical practice, education, consulting and scholarship.

Where the Conference Begins