Hybrid Lecture Traversed Through Global Psychology with APA Senior Director
Words by: Therese Daluping & Judith Soriano
Discussing the Science and Implications of Becoming a Global Psychologist, Senior Director of the Office of International Affairs, Dr. Amanda Clinton M.Ed., Ph.D. of the American Psychological Association (APA), was invited as the plenary speaker for the annual UST Psychology Lecture last March 29, held at the Central Laboratory Auditorium. With a virtual presentation through Zoom moderated by. Dr. Criselle Penamante, and senior psychology students tuning in as the live audience at the auditorium, the hybrid set-up undoubtedly revealed the power of advancing technology and a call for action for the continuing need to address the global challenges and opportunities of the interconnected world.
Dr. Clinton’s lecture addressed the vision and the resolve to understand human behavior and pursue active leadership and inclusion as a global psychologist. According to Dr. Clinton, the problem with human beings is that we fear difference — we are afraid of unfamiliar and complex things, tending to create complications where they don’t need to be. Instead, we should appreciate the value of complexity without making it unnecessarily complicated, finding wonder in differences rather than passing judgment. Grasping these things is the role of global psychologists.
Further, being globally competent is reflected through the training, background, and experience that they have received. No matter what country one is practicing in, there is a certain metric that brings together the goals of international collaboration such as common challenges and opportunities, for example, based on the Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Clinton stressed the need for active global inclusion — working collaboratively and respectfully with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives. This is most importantly done with inclusive leadership structures: horizontal, collective, and servant leadership. In contrast to hierarchical structures, these inclusive leadership structures facilitate active listening to voices around the globe, applying a developmental and organizational approach, and taking action. These things are the foundation of the global psychology alliance, a space where we have global representation across countries, universities, and organizations who come together regularly to work on shared needs. Dr. Clinton ended her talk with the quote, “‘Learning to dance’ with a complex system is about creative options based on equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
Several students raised their questions in the Open Forum, where Dr. Clinton enthusiastically answered. One of them asked about how Dr. Clinton envisions the psychology field five to ten years from now, with which she said that it would be a psychology that integrated the scientific method to talk about topics which were unnoticed for the past years. She also emphasized that Filipino psychologists should always be open for learning opportunities if they want to ensure a competent global environment in the field of Psychology. Another student raised a concern about the importance of objectivity, since psychologists are still humans, especially in topics they oppose. Dr. Clinton answered that, “Everyone does not have to think like I do.”
To close the lecture, Prof. Ma. Claudette A. Agnes, Ph.D, Asst. Dean talked about looking forward to a collaboration with Dr. Clinton is improving the psychology training curriculum in Commission on Higher Education (CHED) where she states that while we are ready, “We’re limited by the guidelines of the government.” She also emphasized the difference in training of psychologists around the globe; such as the US requiring a Ph.D. for both psychologists and psychometricians in the US. In the Philippines, 300 hours of internship. are required for a Master’s Degree, and 500 hours for a Doctoral Degree. She encouraged the students to train and use the knowledge they have, as UST is already practicing the standards set by the APA.
All in all, the lecture was a success, with new information and learnings relevant to the field of Psychology today. Surely, the attendees have gained more knowledge on how to be globally competent professionals that are ready to take action, whatever their calling may be.
