Handbook of International Psychology

World events have raised pressing questions of psychology as it is practiced all over the globe. The Handbook ofInternational Psychology chronicles the discipline of psychology as it evolves in different regions, in the hope of reducing the isolated, parochial, and ethnocentric nature of the American profession. It surveys the history, methodology, education and training, and the future of psychology in nine distinct regions across six continents. They represent long histories in the field, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, emerging practices, such as Uganda, Korea and Spain, the lesser-known philosophies of China and histories marked by massive social change, as in Poland and Iran. The editors have carefully selected contributors, as well as an editorial board created especially for this project. Each chapter follows a uniform outline, unifying the volume as a whole, but allowing for the cultural diversity and status of psychology in each country.

"During the last decade psychology has expanded in many parts of the world, with most of the growth taking place outside the United States. This volume will prove indispensable for anyone wishing to learn how psychology is conceived, taught, practiced, and transformed at the global level. In it, a team of experts from 27 countries describes the worldwide struggle of psychology to become a socially useful science and discipline ready to make its much needed contribution to the betterment of human lives. ." -- Uwe P. Gielen is the senior editor of the Handbook of Culture, Therapy, and Healing (2004)."Kudos to Stevens and Wedding for a timely volume that is sure to become the definitive overview of international psychology at the dawn of the 21st century. This ground breaking work contains chapters by distinguished, internationally known authors, who describe the current state of the science and practice of psychology in 27 countries in 9 regions of the world. Each chapter ends with a look ahead to future challenges, many of which will require transnational soltutions. The Handbook is a giant step in the promotion of the global conversation that is necessary to produce a truly international psychology." -- Joan C. Chrisler, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Connecticut College"This handbook offers encouragement to American Psychologists to see the need for understanding the international nature of the discipline and the mean to begin that journey. It is safe to say that anyone that reads this book will find their intellectual horizons expanded and their attitude regarding the relationship between psychology and American psychology quite possibly adjusted. For these reasons alone, all American psychologist would be well advised to add the Handbook to their reading list. Those who teach should make this book known to their students and see that a copy resides in the library. Like any travel, the Handbook of International Psychology will reward students, academic psychologist, and practitioners alike with sn increase knowledge and a broader perspective. The Handbook reminds us all that psychology is a human invention and enterprise and as such reflects the diversity and uniqueness that we attempt to understand by participating in it." -- APA/PsycCRITIQUES, John Hall

Michael Stevens is Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Illinois State University.Danny Wedding is Director and Professor of Psychiatry, Missouri Institute of Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Missouri - Columbia.