Psychology in Latin America ― Current Status, Challenges and Perspectives

This contributed volume is a real “who is who” in Latin American psychology. Edited by the most prominent psychology researcher alive in the region, the book presents a comprehensive panorama of psychology in Latin America as a science, as a profession and as a way of improving the quality of life of individuals and communities.

Despite its achievements, Latin American psychology is little known by the international psychological community. In order to fill this gap, Dr. Rubén Ardila has invited the most important researchers and practitioners in the region to present an overview of psychology as both a profession and a research field in Latin America in the following areas:

· Scientific research

· Professional issues

· Clinical and health psychology

· Developmental psychology

· Educational and school psychology

· Organizational and work psychology

· Social psychology

· Community psychology

· Legal and forensic psychology

Psychology in Latin America – Current Status, Challenges and Perspectives seeks to place Latin American psychology on the map of international psychology, and by doing so it aims to foster cooperation between researchers, practitioners and students from the region with its peers from all over the world.

Ruben Ardila is a Colombian research psychologist and professor at the National University of Colombia with a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. He has done research on experimental psychology, history of psychology, and the application of psychology to social issues. Dr. Ardila has published 32 books and more than 300 scientific papers in journals from several countries, and book chapters. Some of his books have been translated into English, German, Portuguese and other languages. As a visiting professor in several countries, including the United States, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain, Argentina, and others, he has promoted research, international psychology and history of psychology. Dr. Ardila has been president of the Interamerican Society of Psychology (SIP), the International Society for Comparative Psychology (ISCP), the Latin American Association for the Analysis and Modification of Behavior (ALAMOC), and others. He founded the Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia (Latin American Journal of Psychology), and edited this journal from 1969 to 2003.He was a member of the executive committee of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), between 1992 and 2004. He belongs to the Board of Directors of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP, 2006-2018). In 2004 he received the Science Award from Colombia. One of his recognitions is the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology (2007). His most recent books are entitled Autobiografia, un Punto en el Tiempo y en el Espacio (Autobiography, a Point in Time and Space, 2012), and Historia de la Psicologia en Colombia (History of Psychology in Colombia, 2013).