History of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)
From the earliest days of psychology as a modern scientific discipline, international gatherings of psychologists have been convened to foster the exchange of ideas and to advance the field globally. The First International Congress of Psychology was held in Paris in 1889, followed by successive congresses in London (1892), Munich (1896), and Paris (1900). To ensure continuity, a Standing Committee of the International Congress of Psychology was subsequently established to organise future congresses, and it is from this committee that the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) ultimately evolved.
Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, there emerged a growing consensus that psychology required an international body with a broader mandate than the mere organisation of congresses. Following the Second World War, this view coincided with UNESCO’s initiative to encourage the formation of international unions in disciplines that did not yet possess such structures.
At the first post-war International Congress of Psychology, held in Edinburgh in 1948, it was resolved to establish an International Union of Psychological Science, modelled upon similar unions in other scientific domains. Statutes were drafted in the following years and were formally adopted at the XIII International Congress of Psychology in Stockholm in 1951. At this time, the International Congress Committee officially transferred its responsibilities to the newly constituted Union. The final Secretary-General of the International Congress Committee, Professor H. S. Langfeld, became the first Secretary-General of IUPsyS, while several committee members assumed roles as the inaugural Officers and Executive Committee Members. Thus, the Union stands as the direct institutional successor to the International Congress Committee, though its scope and activities have expanded significantly since its founding.
Founding and Growth
Eleven charter organisations founded the International Union of Psychological Science on 17 July 1951 at the Stockholm Congress. During that same year, nine additional National Members joined, marking the beginning of a period of steady expansion. This continuing growth attests to the Union’s relevance and success in promoting international collaboration in psychology.
By 2012, IUPsyS had expanded to include 82 National Members, with new applications continuing to emerge from candidate organisations across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America.
Further Reading:
Rosenzweig, M. R., Holtzman, W., Sabourin, M., & Bélanger, D. History of the International Union of Psychological Science. Psychology Press.
History Of IUPsyS Governance
For a record of IUPsyS Officers and Executive Committee Members from 1951 to the present, please refer to the List of IUPsyS Officers and Executive Committee Members, 1951-present