In Brief
Helping people traumatized by natural catastrophes such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and examining the challenges and problems immigrants face as they acculturate-or don't-into American and European societies are two themes of the 26th International Congress of Applied Psychology in Athens, Greece, July 16-21.
Hosted by the Hellenic Psychological Society and the Association of Greek Psychologists, the quadrennial meeting will draw as many as 3,000 participants from 80 countries, says conference co-president and University of Athens psychology professor James Georgas, PhD.
Noting that the congress attracts influential psychologists from around the world, Georgas says the gathering is an opportunity to become familiar with international trends and meet fellow psychologists doing original and creative work.
Michael Frese, PhD, president of the International Association of Applied Psychology, will give the congress's opening address, "What if applied psychology mattered in the world?"
Throughout the congress, psychologists and students will offer international and cross-cultural perspectives on applied psychological research across a variety of areas from traffic safety to organizational growth.
Presentations on how psychologists can help people cope with the death and destruction brought by natural disasters, and discussions concerning the immigrant experience, particularly that of Muslims in western European nations such as the Netherlands who do not acculturate to their adopted countries, will also be held, Georgas said.
Other sessions during the congress include presidential addresses, lectures, keynote speakers, symposia and poster sessions, along with presentations from the International Union of Psychological Science and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.
In addition to those events, 30 continuing-education workshops are scheduled, he said.
Noteworthy U.S. speakers include Charles Spielberger, PhD, speaking on "Stress, Emotions, Heart Disease and Cancer," Raymond Fowler, PhD, discussing "The Psychological Autopsy: Analyzing the Aviator," Ervin Staub, PhD, speaking on "Preventing Violence Between Local Ethnic Groups and Muslim Minorities," Walter Mischel, PhD, addressing "Personality and Will Power" and Harry Triandis, PhD, speaking on "Self-deception: An Underresearched Phenomenon in Human Affairs."
APA's chief executive officer, Norman Anderson, PhD, will give a talk titled "A Perspective on the Future of Psychology."
APA is planning a modest travel grant program for U.S. psychologists attending the congress, says Merry Bullock, PhD, senior director of APA's Office of International Affairs. More information on the grants is at APA International.
- C. Munsey
