The PSI Network conference is coming to Melbourne, Australia in 2026!
21-23 March 2026, Melbourne Business School
We are excited to invite our PSI Network members to Melbourne in March for a stimulating two-day academic program followed by a day of featured talks by member-authors presenting their latest books.
Days 1 and 2 (21-22 March) - Program Chair: Nick Hays, Michigan State University
The first two days of the conference feature both eminent and rising scholars from across the PSI Network disciplines of psychology, organizational behavior, sociology, anthropology, political science, and even public health. The varied program includes speaker and interactive sessions as well as evening social activities.
Day 3 (23 March) - Program Chair: Jen Overbeck, Melbourne Business School
On day 3, PSI Network members who have recently published books will share their work with conference attendees, along with special guests from among the Melbourne business community.
See the conference page here, with information about hotels and (when available) the draft program.
Look for a registration link coming soon!
About the PSI Network
PSI was launched for one reason—to connect researchers from different fields who share a common interest in power, status, and influence. These three topics have long captured the attention of academic scholars and continue to inspire empirical work across many disciplines (e.g., psychology, sociology, and biology). Much of this work examines the cognitive and social psychology of power and status dynamics present in diverse populations, ranging from investment bankers to Capuchin monkeys. Taken together, the insights drawn from this body of research are fundamental and its implications are far-reaching.
- Details
In her new book You Have More Influence Than You Think social psychologist Vanessa Bohns draws from her original research to illustrate why we fail to recognize the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power. Whether attending a meeting, sharing a post online, or mustering the nerve to ask for a favor, we often assume our actions, input, and requests will be overlooked or rejected. Yet Bohns and her work demonstrate that people see us, listen to us, and agree to do things for us much more than we realize — for better, and worse. You Have More Influence Than You Think offers science-based strategies for observing the effect we have on others, reconsidering our fear of rejection, and even, sometimes, pulling back to use our influence less. It is a call to stop searching for ways to gain influence you don’t have and to start recognizing the influence you don’t realize you already have.