"Empowering Peace Psychologists to Be Creative Change Agents"

Click here to download a copy of this flyer

What are our responsibilities as psychologists living in a time of global conflicts which evoke outcries of moral outrage? How can we make changes in the direction of peace? Share with us whatever kind of work you do that promotes peace, whether as an educator, clinician, and/ or activist. We invite division heads of APA to help us with this collaborative work.

HOW CAN WE AS PSYCHOLOGISTS PROMOTE PEACE IN EDUCATIONAL, CLINICAL, and COMMUNITY SETTINGS? For example, what are the clinical ramifications of introducing peace into educational curricula? We invite the clinical divisions (Clinical, Clinical Child and Adolescent, Pediatric, and Counseling, Family Psychology among others), School and Educational Psychology Divisions, and divisions concerned with lifecycle and developmental issues, to join us in exploring how we can encourage peaceful resolution of conflict, create communities of peace for our children, and promote needed social skills.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TRIBUNALS AND OTHER HEALING TECHNIQUES IN RESTORING PEACE IN COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY WAR AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE? What is the place and impact of tribunals for war crimes? Are they just? How effective are national displays of contrition, statements acknowledging responsibility, and reparations as peace builders? How do forgiveness and reconciliation succeed as ways of promoting peace among people who have been engaged in conflict? What ethical questions should we explore when we as humanitarian workers participate in such restoration processes? We invite collaboration with the American Psychology-Law Society, Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minorities Issues, Military Psychology, and the APA Divisions for Social Justice and other divisions wanting to join us in programming in this area.

ARE YOU A PSYCHOLOGIST WORKING WITH THE UN? We want to learn from you how psychologists can have a voice in creating global change. We encourage psychologists from any division working with the UN to join with us in developing a program.

HOW CAN WE BECOME PEACE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PROMOTE THE WORK OF PEACE PSYCHOLOGY? What motivates us to serve as change agents and to work in altruistic ways, what are the logistics involved, the "nuts and bolts" of becoming involved, and how do we do this work in an energized, sustained way? We invite Peace Psychologists on APA committees, psychologists who are leaders in their divisions, and psychologists who work with other organizations or singly to share their experiences and explore the transforming process, both within themselves and in their work with others.

HOW CAN WE CREATE CULTURES OF PEACE? We seek programs with Community, International, Population and Environmental, Family, Military, Industrial and Group Psychology, SPSSI, and other divisions to join us in developing community models that are applicable in different settings. We would like explore how ethical issues, accountability issues, and cultural differences impact our work.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT HOW WOMEN CREATE AND PRACTICE PEACE? Division 48 wants to look at how women historically have contributed to cultures of peace and how they are doing this in the present. We solicit contributions from Psychology of Women, Study of Lesbian and Gay Issues, Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity, and other divisions to work with us on this important issue.

HOW ARE WE WORKING WITH THOSE IN SOCIETY WHO ARE MARGINALIZED? Division 48 wants to collaborate with members from Counseling Psychology, Ethnic and Racial Diversity, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Psychology of Women, The Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues, Group Psychology, International Psychology, Children, Youth and Family Service and other divisions who will help us learn more about what groups are successful in retaining their identity and effectiveness while serving as contributing members within their larger society.

WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PSYCHOLOGISTS TO WORK WITH MEDIA PSYCHOLOGISTS? We want to develop programming with Media Psychology, SPSSI, International Psychology, and other interested divisions to review what we have learned and to guide us in promoting effective messages that contribute to peaceful societies.

Feel free to email Maram Hallak, APA 2005 Division 48 Program Chair (mhallak@bmcc.cuny.edu) or Julie Levitt, Co-Chair (julie.levitt@verizon.net) for further information.

Click here to download a copy of this flyer

Back to Division Main Page