Center of Indigenous and Cultural Psychology (CICP) UGM plans to organize The First International Conference of Indigenous and Cultural Psychology from July 24 to 27, 2010. At least 300 participants from 28 countries planned to attend the conference. The participants came from, among others, the United States, Mexico, Canada, UK, Poland, South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya and New Zealand. "The conference participants will examine various social issues, culture, arts, education, and clinical issues from the perspective of indigenous psychology," said Dr. Kwartarini W. Yuniarti to the reporters at the Faculty of Psychology UGM, Tuesday (15/6).
She said that the participants who came from various continents will learn about the diversity in Indonesia. Ethnic and cultural wealth of more than 300 languages and 700 dialects made Indonesia as a multiethnic and multicultural country that is able to live in harmony. This distinctive uniqueness becomes the academician's object of study about the psychology of the Indonesians. "During this time, the knowledge of psychology came from the West. Indonesians have yet to develop psychology by themselves," she said.
Some psychology experts who will present their papers include Prof. Dr. Faturrohman, Prof. Dr. Djamaludin Ancok, Helly P. Soetjipto, Dr. Subandi, Prof. Uichol Kim (South Korea), Prof. Kwang-Kuo Hwang (Taiwan), Prof. Girishwar Miswar (India), Prof. Susumu Yamaguchi (Japan), and Prof. Albert Bandura (United States).