Wednesday 22 July 11:25
- 12:55
Hall: 21 - Room 18
Chair:
Khoury Brigitte
Discussant:
Gutiérrez Germán
Division: Division 3: Psychology and Societal Development
Psychology, as both a science and profession, has long been shaped by colonial histories frameworks. While these paradigms have advanced knowledge in many domains, they have also marginalized Indigenous worldviews, sustained inequities, and contributed to systemic racism. This symposium addresses the urgent need to decolonize psychology by presenting diverse, global perspectives that interrogate dominant narratives and propose pathways toward anti-racist and socially just practice.
From Japan, Hanako Suzuki examines the tensions between imported Western psychological science and local traditions, highlighting the complex position of scholars situated between colonizer and colonized histories. Randal Tonks then explores efforts in Canada to indigenize psychology by integrating multiple knowledge systems, demonstrating the transformative potential of reconciliation in theory, pedagogy, and practice. Turning to Aotearoa New Zealand, Moana Waitoki and Kyle Tan present findings from national studies that expose systemic racism in psychology education and training, situating their work within the UN Sustainable Development Goals on health, education, inequality, and justice. From Puerto Rico, Marizaida Sánchez Cesáreo introduces the Better Ancestors System Change Model, illustrating how intersectional, community-driven approaches can dismantle structural racism and foster sustainable change in healthcare systems.
Together, these four presentations advance the Congress theme, New Directions in Applied Psychology, by critically interrogating psychology's colonial foundations and envisioning futures grounded in equity, plurality, and global responsibility. The symposium offers a transdisciplinary dialogue across regions and methodologies, underscoring psychology's potential to contribute to sustainable development and social transformation.
