Re-Visioning Global Psychology: Majority World Imperatives To Better Serve Humanity

Contemporary psychology has experienced significant expansion in scope and the intricacies of global organisational dynamics as psychologists have embraced the mission of serving humanity. Despite notable advancements, the discipline continues to face a combination of historical and contemporary challenges. These include the enduring dominance of Western academic scientific psychology, epistemological issues and increasing disciplinary fragmentation. Paradoxically, the global state of poly-crisis highlights the critical need for psychological science while negatively affecting its development and application.

In this address, I call for the urgent re-visioning of global psychology with the goal of the full and complete integration of contributions, perspectives, and realities of the Majority World as a prerequisite for fulfilling the discipline’s promise to humanity. In doing so, I highlight the pivotal role of African psychologists and psychologies. Additionally, I discuss the imperatives for IUPsyS to promote an inclusive global psychology that is grounded in critical reflexivity, whole psychology leadership and strengthening Members’ capacity to realise the vision for a multi-polar global psychological science. I end with an invitation to participate in this bold and transformative re-visioning and associated praxis to promote psychology’s evolution as a truly global science that benefits all of humanity and our natural environment.

Prof. Ava Thompson 

Dr. Ava Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Academic whose professional activities reflect a macro-disciplinary focus with national, regional and international engagement. She is currently the Secretary-General of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS).  Dr. Thompson was the founding President of the Caribbean Alliance of National Psychological Associations (CANPA) and is Past-President of the Bahamas Psychological Association.