Psychological Society of Ireland Relaunches SIGMAC as Digital Psychology Takes Centre Stage
PSI's Special Interest Group for Media, the Arts and Cyberpsychology relaunches on 4th November 2024, aligned with strategic focus on psychology's role in an increasingly digital world.
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SIGMAC Relaunch Marks Strategic Shift for Irish Psychology
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) relaunched its Special Interest Group for Media, the Arts and Cyberpsychology (SIGMAC) on 4th November 2024. Originally established in 2012, the relaunch reflects a renewed commitment to psychology’s evolving role in digital contexts.
The timing aligns with PSI’s 2024–2026 Strategic Plan, which adopted “Psychology’s role in an increasingly digital world” as a strategic theme. This positioning signals the profession’s recognition that digital environments are now central to psychological practice and research.
International Collaboration and Policy Context
SIGMAC collaborates with the Digitalisation Expert Reference Group of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA), embedding Irish psychology within broader European efforts to address cyberpsychological challenges.
The relaunch comes as regulatory frameworks tighten. The EU Digital Services Act (2022) includes guidelines to enforce the protection of minors online, creating both context and urgency for SIGMAC’s work.
The Vibrant Mind Exhibition
The relaunch coincided with the presentation of a GAMIAN-Europe exhibition titled “The Vibrant Mind: Embracing Mental Health Through Artistry,” which featured 29 artists from across Europe. The exhibition ran for two weeks at SETU Carlow, from 4th to 15th November 2024, demonstrating the intersection of mental health advocacy, artistic expression, and psychology that SIGMAC seeks to support.