3862 - FROM FORTUNE-TELLING TO PROFESSIONAL REGULATION: THE EVOLUTION AND LOCALIZATION OF PSYCHOLOGY IN TAIWAN

Session: 3857 - THE DEVELOPING LANDSCAPE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL REGULATION AND ACCREDITATION IN THE ASIA PACIFIC.
AUTHORS:
Yang Cheng-Ta (Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan ~ Hainan ~ Taiwan) , Lo Shih-Yu (Institute of Communication Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan ~ Tainan ~ Taiwan)
Abstract text:
Psychology in Taiwan has undergone a remarkable transformation—from being viewed as akin to fortune-telling to becoming a scientifically grounded and professionally regulated discipline. This presentation outlines that evolution in three stages. First, it traces shifts in public understanding and academic recognition of psychology. Second, it highlights the establishment of the Psychologists Act, which formalized professional regulation and licensing. Third, it showcases the Taiwanese Psychological Association's (TPA) ongoing efforts to localize psychological science, particularly through the Professor Yang Guoshu Research Paper Award for Chinese Native Psychology. This award promotes research that reflects the unique cultural and social contexts of Taiwan, advancing theories and practices rooted in local experience rather than Western paradigms. By situating Taiwan's journey within the Asia-Pacific landscape, this presentation illustrates how psychological science can grow through both cultural adaptation and professional governance.