• To continue providing an avenue for scholars and practitioners of psychological and related fields to engage in broad and meaningful dialogues.
• To provide a regional convention which more local psychologists can participate.
• To continue creating a platform for academic cooperation of networking in the Asian region.
• To enhance the human psychological and social development the Asian region.
• To learn about the recent ideas of psychologists especially around the region.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ELECT OF THE 2ND CONVENTION

The Asian Psychological Association (APsyA) was declared in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 15th August, 2005, at the First Convention of the Asian Council of Psychologists. APsyA operated with an interim President and Board of Directors prior to the adoption of the Constitution on the 18th August, 2006 at the First Convention of the Asian Psychological Association held in Bali, Indonesia.

Since there are significant differences between the psychology of the Western (more individualistic) and Eastern psychology (more collective), APsyA is intended to accommodate the interests of interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and interethnic individual psychologists who will try to develop the Asian psychological school and paradigm, to comprehend and to deal with the Asian unique people.

The Second Convention will be held in Kuala Lumpur, in 2008. The Convention will continue providing an opportunity to share developments in research and practice in psychology and related fields in Asia. In other words, the mission of the Convention is to continue promoting the science of psychology and to facilitate interaction and communication among Asian psychologists and other psychologists interested in Asian psychology. It is hoped that the Convention will create a platform for academic cooperation of networking and thus, enhancing the human psychological and social development in the Asian region.

The theme of the Convention is “Building Asian Families and Communities in the 21st Century”. The theme is chosen because the family is essentially significant in an Asian society. Families provide us particularly our children, the sense of belonging, and a unique identity. Families are, or should be, a source of emotional support and comfort, warmth and nurturing, protection and security. Family relationships provide children with a critical sense of being valued and with a vital network of historical linkages and social support. Within every healthy family there is a sense of reciprocity - a giving and taking of love and emphaty by every family member.

In this new millennium, the family has become even more important as the source of companionship and intimacy. However, some social scientists express concern that the family is no longer fulfilling its functions adequately. Is it true that the family has been losing its influence in our society? This issue will be discussed in the Convention.

However, other related topics (sub-themes) will also be covered, such as psychological and social changes, psychological development of youth, adult and the elderly, subjective well-being, family values, women, changes in values and identity, health and religion.

On behalf of the Asian Psychological Association, I would like to welcome all of you to Kuala Lumpur, or in Malay Language, I should say “Selamat Datang” to all the participants.

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jas Laile Suzana Jaafar
President Elect of the 2nd Convention of Asian Psychological Association
Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 6 03 7967 5511
Fax: 6 03 7967 5459
Email: laile@um.edu.my