THis article is adapted from "Finland National Tour, 2008," prepared by Lisa Hakamies-Blomqvist and reprinted from Wedding, D., & Stevens, M. J. (Eds.). (2009). Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource (Edition 2009) [CD-ROM]. International Journal of Psychology, 44(Suppl. 1).

History

The first psychological laboratory was set up at Turku University in 1922, and the first chair was founded at Teacher's College (now University) of Jyväskylä in 1936. There are now institutions of psychology in the universities of Helsinki (also social psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences; industrial and organizational psychology at the Helsinki University of Technology), Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Turku (two separate) and Tampere (also social psychology). The fields of psychology are health (40%), public administration (vocational guidance, ministries) (12%), social (17%), school (7%), private area (therapists, neuropsychologists) (5%), and others (rehabilitation, organizations, consultation) (17%).

Research

Research is conducted in eight universities and in few specialized research institutes. Major fields are psychology and psychophysiology of perception and attention, cognitive psychology, developmental and educational psychology, psychology of work and traffic, neuropsychology, and health. In 1996 the number of academic teachers (N = 72) and (+) other staff in the universities was about 190.

Education

In 1998, full university training was offered to approximately 1,400 students (annual intake about 170) in 6 universities. Upon completing a 5-year (empirically 7 years) undergraduate curriculum the students receive a M.Psych. degree (or equivalent, like M.Ed., M.Soc.Sc.). The universities annually graduate about 140 students. The scientific post-graduate degrees (lower Phil.Lic or Lic.Psych, and higher Ph.D. or D. Psych.) require a minimum of 4 and 6 years of post-graduate study, respectively. Approximately 260 students are enrolled at this level. The 6 full programs form also a joint-network, PsychoNet, an inter-university system. PsychoNet is managing part of the Ph.D. programs and also a program for special psychologists (5 fields: developmental and educational psychology, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, health psychology, and work and organizational psychology).

The use of the professional name – "psychologist" – is licensed by state legislation since 1994, and the approval of a special board is requested for all psychologists wanting to work in Finland.

Publications

Psykologia, 6/year
Acta Psychologica Fennica, 1951- , irregular
Psykologiuutiset, 11/year

Updated August 2008