This article is adapted from "National Tour," which appeared in Wedding, D., & Stevens, M. J. (Eds). (2009). Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource (Edition 2009) [CD-ROM]. International Journal of Psychology, 44 (Suppl. 1).
History
Psychology in Malawi started with the establishment of the University of Malawi in 1965. It was taught under the umbrella of human behavior, which comprised philosophy, psychology and sociology. The introductory course was combined with students branching off into the various disciplines in later years. In 1972, this arrangement was found to be unsatisfactory for psychology students. Hence the introductory course for psychology was separated from human behavior and emphasis was put on teaching experimental psychology.
From 1977, psychology, philosophy, and sociology operated under a loose federation under the headship of sociology. The emphasis of psychology shifted to more applied fields of child development, personality and social and organizational psychology. In 1978, psychology became a full-fledged department and consolidated its emphasis on application. Currently, the discipline also offers tuition and research in marketing psychology, health and welfare psychology and psychological assessments. Members of the department have been involved in helping to solve problems of refugees, AIDS, selection and motivation, and marketing.
Research
In Malawi psychology has attempted to focus itself on researching the current problems facing the country. A lot has been done to help the country cope with the influx of refugees that was dominant during the past decade. Psychology has also tried to conduct applied research in combating the AIDS epidemic. The Department of Psychology at the University of Malawi focuses on health related problems and on organizational/industrial problems.
Education
Psychology training is offered at the university degree level. It is combined with other disciplines during a four-year degree program.
Regulations
There are no government regulations or requirements since there are no professional psychologists. However, the Medical Association of Malawi regulations govern clinical psychologists.
Malawi psychologists do not have a formal code of ethics.
Publications
Journal of Social Science, 1972- , 1/year
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