This article is adapted from "Serbia National Tour", prepared by Panta Kovacevic and Ivana Petrovic, University of Beograd, 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).

Number of Psychologists in Serbia: 2900

History

Studies of psychology were introduced in 1838 in Kragujevac (then the capital of Serbia). The psychology unit was constituted at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Beograd in 1927. After the Second World War, studies of psychology in Serbia were reestablished at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy in Beograd.

From its academic beginning in Serbia, psychology has been oriented toward both empirical research and more comprehensive theoretical scope. Stronger development is connected with the foundation of the Institute for Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Beograd, in 1961. At the Institute there are both basic and applied research projects.

The Serbian Psychological Society gathers psychologists from 1953. It comprises various specialists' groups: for clinical psychology, educational psychology, psychology of work, psychology of music, psychology of social care, etc.). Every university graduate at the B.Sc. in Psychology level holds the title "Psychologist" and can be a member of the Serbian Psychological Society. Also, M.Sc. and Ph.D. titles in psychology and psychiatrists are recognized for membership.

The Association of Psychologist of Serbia aims to encourage the development of psychology through professional and research activities and to provide its members with scientific and professional information relevant to academic activities, professional training as well as psychologists in practice. The Association also informs its members about contemporary professional methods and scientific innovations in different fields of psychology. The Association maintains mutually useful forms of connection and co-operation with humanitarian, governmental and non-governmental, as well as international organizations, in order to advance psychologists' work, satisfy the needs of users of psychologists' services and solve certain issues important for the Psychological Society and wider social community.

Each year the Serbian Psychological Society organizes a scientific and professional meeting. The Yugoslav Association organizes a congress every second year (psychologists from Yugoslavia were very active in the work of the Psychological Association of ex-Yugoslavia). Also, from 1995 the Institute for Psychology and Laboratory for Experimental Psychology have organized each year a scientific meeting, Empirical Research in Psychology, at the Faculty of Philosophy. The Journal Psihologija "Psychology" was founded in 1967. The Serbian Psychological Society publishes a monthly newsletter Psiholoske novine "Psychological News". The Institute for Psychology publishes monographs and other books based on the Institute's projects.

Education

University graduate education (B.Sc. Psych. level) consists of four years (eight terms) of studies and training and over two hundred hours of supervised practicum (in clinical, educational, and psychology of work). University studies are organized at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Beograd and the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad. In 1997 psychology studies were initiated at the universities in Nis and Pristina also.

There are two possibilities for postgraduate education. An individual may specialize in a specific field of applied psychology (clinical, educational, traffic, etc.) in a program lasting for one year (two terms) or an individual may pursue the M.A. and Ph.D. Education and training in specific fields of applied psychology is organized within the Serbian Psychological Society and in alliance with authorized international societies and educators (e.g., in psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy, etc.).

Regulation

Graduate psychologists must pass an exam organized by the State Board of Examiners (professors from the departments of psychology are included) after one year of internship. The practice of psychology is regulated by a law issued in 1996 in Serbia, the Law of the Practice of Psychology. This law concerning the rights of university diploma holders regulates the use of the title of psychologist. These regulations apply to all psychologists.

Serbian psychologists do have a formal code of ethics, which was adopted in Belgrade on April 20, 2000 at the meeting of the Assembly of The Serbian Psychological Society.

Publications

Psihologija, 1967- , 4/year
Psiholoska istrazivanja, 1976- , 1/year
Casopis za klinicku psihologiju i socijalnu patologiju, 1994- , 2/year
LEP Saopstenja, 1993- , 12/year
Psichology, 1977-, monthly

In 1992 the Serbian Psychological Society founded the Center for Applied Psychology as an independent company for research and development services, printing-publishing field, and commercial projects. The Center is engaged in:

• publishing (textbooks, reference books and other psychological literature);
• constructing and standardizing tests and other psychological instruments, as well as publishing accompanying literature; and
• procuring and distribution of scientific and professional information.

The Center for Applied Psychology is the only recognized and authorized publisher and distributor of psychological tests and other psychological measuring instruments used in our country. In order for the Center to be able to fulfill its professional and social function in the transitory times, its primary goals and tasks are to provide co-operation with European and world authors and publishers of psycho-diagnostic measuring instruments and professional publications, as well as with related organizations.

Updated December 2008