Situation and future development of psychology in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Journal/Book: Psychol Rundsch. 1997; 48: Rohnsweg 25, D-37085 Gottingen, Germany. Hogrefe-Verlag GmbH & Co. 1-15.

Abstract: This report is a revised version of the presidential address given at the 40th Congress of the German Psychological Society. It reflects the situation and the future development of German-language psychology by analysing psychology as a science and a profession. Based on statistical data it is shown that the popularity of psychology as a field of study is continously increasing and that the job situation has improved markedly during the first half of the nineties. Results of an analysis of the funding activities of the German Science Foundation (DFG), the Swiss Science Foundation (SNF) and the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF) are reported. They shed light on the question in which fields there were especially intense research activities. In a second part of the report problems are focussed: the negative consequences of the very restrictive financial policy of the public authorities, the difficulties of clinical psychologists in a situation in which the urgently needed law on psychotherapy is still under discussion, the unsatisfactory international reception of German-language psychology. Finally guide lines are given for the further development of psychology in Germany, Austria and Switzerland They are based on the results of a survey, in which a sample of leading psychological scientists expressed their views on this subject.

Note: Article Spada H, Univ Freiburg, Inst Psychol, Niemensstr 10, D-79085 Freiburg, GERMANY

Keyword(s): presidential address; psychology as a field of study; job situation; funding of psychological research; law on psychotherapy; future development of psychology; LANGUAGE; FACTS

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