28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

Wednesday, 11 August 2004
3001 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
Psychology in the future
Convener and Chair: R. Ardila, Colombia
3001.1 Psychology in the near, middle, and far future, R. Ardila, National University of
Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
During the XIXth. International Congress of Psychology (London, 1969), a symposium on
‘Psychology in the future’ took place. Now, 35 years later, many of the ideas presented on that
occasion are part of the psychological discipline, while others have not become a reality. Trends in
psychology will be presented, based on some research on this topic. Psychology as a science and
as a profession in the near, middle, and far future, will be discussed.
3001.2 How will psychology fare in the 21st. century? C. Kagitcibasi, Koc University,
Istambul, Turkey
Certain lines of development of psychology are expected to continue in the 21st century that have
already begun in the 20th. These entail moving toward lower and higher levels of analysis.
Psychologists will find it necessary to conduct culturally sensitive and socially relevant research.
In this process a more international outlook in both theory and research will require that Western
psychologists pay more attention and learn from global research emerging from diverse cultures,
much more than hay have done in the 20th century.
3001.3 Making the most of the brain: Perspectives for the future, M.R. Rosenzweig, Berkeley,
CA, USA
Having attended the symposium on this topic of the future of psychology at the 19th. International
Congress of Psychology in 1969, I would like first to compare some trends and predictions that
were presented then, with some offered now. Then I will explore future possibilities, some of them
based on findings of brain plasticity that started with research of my colleagues and myself in the
1950s. These include enriched experience for full development and maintenance of brain and
ability, methods for preventing damage to the brain and of repair of the nervous system, and
pharmacological improvement of learning and memory. Bioethical concerns will also be
considered.
3001.4 Psychology and philosophy in the future: A philosophy of life as a framework for a
psychological theory, H. Carpintero, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Basic topics of contemporary psychology-behavior, subject, mind and many others- always
require from a philosophical understanding. Contemporary Spanish philosopher Ortega-y-Gasset
formulated a philosophy of 'human life' similar to modern existentialism. This appears to be a
theoretical framework close to psychology, and flexible enough to adopt those forms that could fit
well with an up-to-date theory of mind. A cursory view of its possibilities are presented here,
stressing its relevance for an adequate understanding of the human person in the light of present
day philosophical reflections and of recent findings in psychological research.
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