The Interamerican Society of Psychology is the scientific and professional society that brings together the psychologists of the Americas. It is more commonly known by its Spanish title Sociedad Interamericana de Psicología (SIP). It is also known by its French title Société Interaméricaine de Psychologie. The organization's official languages are Spanish, English, Portuguese, and French.
The main objective of the SIP is to promote the exchange among psychologists of the Americas. The SIP has been recognized as a driving force for the growth of psychology in Latin America, and has facilitated the formation of other institutions, such as the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), the Latin American Association for Behavior Analysis and Modification (ALAMOC) or the Latin American Association of Social Psychology (ALAPSO). In order to achieve the central objective, three specific objectives were proposed:
To provide a means of direct communication among psychologists and scientists in related fields in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, and to promote the development of the behavioral sciences in the Western Hemisphere. To contribute to international understanding through a broader understanding of cultural differences and encounters across national boundaries. To help promote research and academic and professional exchange among the nations of the Americas.
Among its activities are the Interamerican Journal of Psychology, which accepts papers pertaining to any area of psychology and in the official languages of the SIP, which are Spanish, English, Portuguese and French; the Interamerican Congress of Psychology, which is held in different American countries and promotes the exchange of information on psychology or related topics; and the Regional Congress, which facilitates access to information for people who could not attend the Interamerican congresses, but on a regional basis. In addition, the SIP awards a student prize for the best research in psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels to promote scientific research among students.
Every two years the SIP hosts the Interamerican Congress of Psychology (CIP) and the Regional Congress of Psychology (CR-SIP). Their first Interamerican Congress was celebrated in 1953 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
History It was founded in Mexico City in 1951 by a group of psychologists and psychiatrists including Eduardo Krapf, Werner Wolff, Oswaldo Robles, Jaime Barrios Peña, Rogelio Díaz-Guerrero, among others. The founders had attended the IV World Congress on Mental Health held at the facilities of the Mexican Institute of Social Security and at the Palace of Fine Arts in December of that same year. The SIP is a member of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), a division of the International Council of Scientific Unions, which allows it to relate to international organizations such as UNESCO.
Since 1953, the SIP has organized Inter-American Congresses. The first one was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from December 10 to 20, 1953, with the central theme “Cultures and Values in Psychology”, organized by Andrés Avelino García, with a registered attendance of 50 people. Currently, these congresses are held every two years and are of a generalist nature, insofar as they cover the main manifestations of the discipline. In addition to the Inter-American Congresses, since 2004, the Regional Congresses have been organized. The first one has taken place in Guatemala and the last one happened in June of 2024 in Arequipa, Peru.
Other relevant facts about the history of the SIP are the following:
Since 1967, the Interamerican Journal of Psychology has been published, which publishes both theoretical and applied articles. The Interamerican Student Award was created in 1991 and was given to undergraduate and graduate students. Since 2007, to honor one of the SIP’s pioneers, it has been decided to rename the Interamerican Psychology Award for Hispanic and Portuguese speakers after Rogelio Díaz Guerrero. Some of the main personalities who have been part of the SIP’s General Committee are Martín-Baró, Rogelio Díaz Guerrero, Rubén Ardila, Harry Triandis, Isabel Lagunes, Aroldo Rodrigues and José Miguel Salazar, among others.
Congresses +CongressDatePlaceAssistantsAdditional informationI1953Santo Domingo, República Dominicana50 Organizer: Andrés Avelino García Moddalities: presentation of research results, works of philosophical reflection on psychology, among others.II1954Ciudad de México, México200 Organizer: Guillermo DávilaIII1955Austin, Texas, USA150 Organizer: Wayne HoltzmanIV1956San Juan, Puerto Rico250 Organizer: Marion GarcíaV1957Ciudad de México, México350 Organizer: Rogelio Díaz GuerreroVI1959Rio de Janeiro, Brasil399 Organizer: Lourenco FilhoVII1961Ciudad de México, México650 Organizer: Guillermo DávilaVIII1963Mar del Plata, Argentina600 Organizer: Fernanda MonasterioIX1964Miami, Florida, USA300 Organizer: Marshal JonesX1966Lima, Perú466 Organizer: Carlos Alberto SeguinXI1967Ciudad de México, México900 Organizer: Rogelio Díaz GuerreroXII30/03 to 06/04 1969Montevideo, Uruguay392 Organizer: Elida J. Tuana Theme: Training, Specialization and Research in Psychology. Modalities: symposiums, working groups, round tables, individual papers, among others.XIII18 to 22 of december, 1971Ciudad Universitaria de la República de Panamá700 Organizer: Carlos Malgrat: Thematic axes: Expectation and problems - Intercultural cooperation Studies on social psychology Learning difficulties and their remedies Studies in Latin America Studies on adolescence Studies on young children Studies on personality Experimental studies Trans-cultural studies Modalities: symposia, individual papersXIV1973São Paulo, Brasil3072 Organizer: Arrigo AngeliniXV14 to 19 of december, 1974Bogotá, Colombia2800 Organizer: José Antonio Sánchez Thematic axes: Contemporary psychology Experimental and non-experimental psychology Modalities: symposia, exhibition of worksXVI12 to 17 of december, 1976Miami, USA720 Organizer: Gordon Finley Thematic axes: Social Psychology Clinical Psychology Educational Psychology Developmental Psychology Psychometrics Modalities: symposia, workshops, bicultural conversation hours, reviews and conferences.XVII1979Lima, Perú4000 Organizer: Reynaldo AlarcónXVIII1981Santo Domingo, República Dominicana1600 Organizer: Rolando TabarXIX1983Quito, Ecuador2000 Organizer: Nelso SerranoXX7 to 12 of july, 1985Caracas, Venezuela2500 Organizer: José Miguel Salazar Thematic areas: Social and Political Psychology History and Philosophy of Psychology Work Psychology Health Psychology Modalities: conferences, symposia, round tables, thematic reviews.XXI28/06 to 03/07, 1987La Habana, Cuba1500 Organizer: Jorge Grau Modalities: conferences, round tables, thematic sessions, workshops, among othersXXII1989Buenos Aires, Argenitna2540 Organizer: Héctor Fernández ÁlvarezXXIII1991San José, Costa Rica2500 Organizer: Daniel Flores MoraXXIV4 to 9 of july, 1993Santiago, Chile2500 Organizer: Julio Villegas Modalities: round tables, presentation of analyses, among others.XXV1995San Juan, Puerto Rico2000 Organizer: Irma Serrano GarcíaXXVI1997São Paulo, Brasil2200 Organizer: María Regina MalufXXVII1999Caracas, Venezuela1800 Organizer: Maritza MonteroXXVIII2001Santiago, Chile1500 Organizer: Antonio MladinicXXIX2003Lima, Perú1700 Organizer: Cecilia ThorneXXX2005Bueno Aires, Argenitna3757 Organizer: Mario MolinaXXXIJuly, 2007Ciudad de México, México1200 Organizer: Isabel Lagunes Thematic axes: Pioneers of psychology in the Latin American context History of psychology in the field of health The relationship between religion and psychology The development of psychology laboratories in Latin America Particular reconstructions of modern psychological systems such as psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Modalities: conferences, symposia, round tables, oral communications and book presentations.XXXII28/06 to 02/07, 2009Universidad del Valle de la Ciudad de Guatemala1700 Organizer: María del Pilar Gracioso Theme: A Path to Peace and Democracy Thematic axes: Health and quality of life Social violence and human rights Gender, political-legal constructs Effects and consequences of poverty Impact of disasters Education Training and evaluation Organizational and labor challengesXXXIII26 to 30 of june, 2011Medellín, Colombia2266 Organizer: Henry Castillo Theme: For the health of the people: A psychology committed to social transformation. Thematic axes: Neuroscience and psychobiology History Epistemology of psychology and basic psychology Psychology and human development Organizational psychology and institutions Psychology, conflict and social transformation Contemporary problems and trends in psychology. Modalities: workshops, conferences, symposia, free papers, posters, round tables, book presentations.XXXIV2013Brasilia, Brasil1989 Organizer: Jairo BorgesXXXV12 to 16 of july, 2015Lima, Perú1650 Organizer: Sheyla Blumen Theme: 62 years building bridgesXXXVI23 to 27 of july, 2017Mérida, Yucatán Organizer: Juana Juárez Romero Theme: Inclusion and equity for the well-being of the Americas. Thematic axes: From the past of the discipline towards new horizons in the search for fairer societies Subjects and psychological processes: bridging inequality gaps Social institutions, creative processes and minorities: generating strategies for inclusion and equity Inclusion and equity from the community, sexuality, law and the environment. Modalities: symposiums, round tables, conferences, book presentations, posters, among others.XXXVII15 to 19 of july, 2019La Habana, Cuba1241 Organizer: Alexis Lorenzo Ruiz Theme: Inter- and transdisciplinary psychology: Strengthening collaboration in the Americas. Thematic areas: Epistemology, theory, methodology and history of psychology Experimental and comparative psychology Education, subjectivity and human development Gender studies Health and human welfare Psychology in organizations Community, social and political psychology Sports psychology Psychogerontology Neuropsychology Family Psychology Couples and sexuality Environmental and emergency and disaster psychology Modalities: workshops and work groupsXXXVIII26 to 28 of july, 2021Virtual modality696 Organizer: Carlos Zalaquett Theme: Contributions of Psychology in the 21st Century Thematic areas: Epistemology, theory, training and history of psychology Methodology Experimental and comparative psychology Education Developmental and evolutionary psychology Gender studies Health and human welfare Psychology in the workplace and organizations Community, social and political psychology Sports psychology Neuropsychology Sexuality studies Rural and environmental psychology Psychology, emergencies and disasters. Modalities: round tables, symposia, free papers, posters, book presentations and workshops.XLIX26 to 30 of june, 2023Asunción, Paraguay1432 Organizer: Antonio Samaniego Thematic axes: Rights, inclusion and disabilities Education Ethics Epistemology and history of psychology Gender studies Training in psychology Methodology of behavioral sciences Human mobility, migration and transnationality Neuroscience and neuropsychology Environmental psychology Health, clinical and hospital psychology Peace psychology Psychology of ethnic groups and cultural minorities Couple and family psychology Consumer psychology Sport psychology, Psychology of work and organizations Psychology in emergencies and disasters Evolutionary and developmental psychology Experimental and comparative psychology Legal psychology Political psychology Rural psychology Social and community psychology Psychology and new technologies Psychology and pandemics COVID-19 Psychology and sexuality