Social and Affective Neuroscience: Ensuring our future

Abstract

While Social and Affective Neuroscience (SAN) has been a successful enterprise thus far, its future currently depends on the goodwill and interest of those not directly involved. The formation of independent SAN areas within psychology departments is the best way to protect our current faculty positions and ensure additional positions for future generations of SAN researchers. This article examines the hurdles we had to jump over at UCLA in order to start a SAN area. This examination will hopefully encourage others to do the same in their departments and allow them to have an easier time gaining departmental support.