History of professionalization of psychology in Latin America. Between academics and social relevance

KLAPPENBACH, HUGO

Yokohama

Congreso; 31th Internacional Congress of Psychology; 2016

This presentation is part of the Invited Symposium 2000018 "Psychology in Latin America for the XXIst century" organized by Ruben Ardila. The presentation focuses on the first Psychology Programs in Psychology in Latin America in Chile, Colombia and Guatemala during the 1940´s. A few years later, increased interest in clinical psychology in a context where psychoanalysis and psychology overlapped. After the 1970´s and 1980´s important changes are introduced in Psychology Education in the region that modified professional practice as well. On the one hand, increased fine and rigorous researches, both related to theoretical and applied topics. On the other hand, increased professional developments mainly orientated towards practices involving  commitment and social relevance. The presentation then analyzes main characteristics of the development of the Psychology profession in Latin America, with emphasis in with emphasis in community psychology and related fields, among them, Martin-Baro´s Liberation Psychology.