DANBURY, CONN. — Dr. Paul Bloom, a developmental psychologist at Yale University and author of “Descartes’ Baby,” will discuss “Bodies and Souls” at 7:30  p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the Western Connecticut State University Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury.  The lecture is part of the annual New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Conference, and is sponsored by WestConn. 

Bloom is an empirical researcher who studies children and contends that we may all have a built-in tendency to distinguish between objects and inanimate entities such as minds and souls, which implies that humans are born dualists. He will discuss the connections between dualism, religion and moral reasoning. 

WestConn Professor of Psychology Dr. Norine Jalbert is coordinating the two-day meeting at which Bloom will speak. Running on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, the event includes jointly scheduled meetings of the NEPA and the Northeast Conference for Teachers of Psychology (NECTOP).

“I really encourage people to come for Paul Bloom’s talk,” Jalbert said. “It might spark their interest for the other speakers on Saturday. It will appeal to a broad interdisciplinary interest.” 

The NECTOP Conference, which begins on Friday afternoon, is geared primarily toward those who teach psychology at the college level, but includes high school teachers as well. Educators will take part in teaching demonstrations and discussions. An event called “Live from WCSU” will feature WestConn psychology professors sharing teaching tools they find effective in their classrooms. 

On Saturday, the NEPA Conference will continue with invited speakers and symposia on cutting-edge scientific and social topics. There also will be paper readings and a student workshop, “How to Get into Grad School.”

Members of WestConn’s chapter of Psi Chi, a national honor society for psychology students, as well as students involved in WestConn’s Psychology Club, will be present at the conferences. They will assist participants with registration and act as guides during the events. 

Jalbert said, “Students and faculty will benefit from the relatively small size of this event.  At the national and regional meetings you can get lost in the shuffle. This is a good opportunity to meet colleagues.” 

Bloom’s lecture will be free and open to the public. The rest of the events are open to anyone who is interested but there is a registration fee.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486, or visit the NEPA Web site at www.nepa-info.org. 

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