Building Asian Families and Communities in the 21st Century: Selected Proceeds of the 2nd Asian Psychological Association Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June, 2008
Editor: Jas Laile Suzana Jaafar and Sherri McCarthy
Date Of Publication: Nov 2009
Isbn13: 978-1-4438-1358-7
Isbn: 1-4438-1358-3
This book provides an overview of current research in psychology throughout Asia, including papers that demonstrate the adaptation of the discipline to issues specific to families and communities within that region of the world. The papers which appear here were presented at the 2nd Convention of the Asian Psychological Association, hosted by the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during June 2008. The Asian Psychological Association (APsyA) was founded in Bali, Indonesia in August 2006 to give a voice to academic psychologists from all countries teaching throughout Asia and to psychologists practicing in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, the Philippines and other countries on the Asian continent. Until its recent establishment, no large professional organization existed for Asian psychologists. Psychology is growing more rapidly as a discipline within Asia than in any other part of the world. It is adapting to the philosophies, history and religions within Asia as it blends Western science with Eastern practices. The information presented here is a valuable window into how the discipline is developing in Asia and a must-read for psychologists, counsellors, academics and others with an interest in psychology throughout the world.

Jas Laile Suzana Jaafar, PhD, is Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, where psychology is housed, at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She was born and raised in Malaysia, and received her university education in psychology in Ireland and the UK. Dr. Jaafar organized the 2nd International Conference of the Asian Psychological Association in 2008, and is Past-President of that organization. She has authored two books, Adolescent Psychology (Lumpur, 2002) and Child and Adolescent Psychology (Lumpur, 2002). She is also a co-author of the chapter on Malaysia in State Violence and the Right to Peace: An International Survey of the Views of Ordinary People (ABC-Clio, 2009) in addition to articles in journals including Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, The Malaysian Journal of Social Administration, and Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology.

Sherri McCarthy, PhD, is active on the boards of many international psychology organizations including ICOPE, ICP, APsyA and APA Division 52. She has authored many books, including Coping with Special Needs Classmates (Rosen, 1995); Death in the Family (International Self-Counsel Press, 1993); Teaching Psychology around the World (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2007; 2009);and Preventing Teen Violence (Greenwood-Praeger, 2006). She has also written chapters in State Violence and the Right to Peace: An International Survey of the Views of Ordinary People (ABC-CLIO, 2009), Psychology of Terrorism (Greenwood-Praeger, 2002), Treating Abusers in Correctional Settings, (Haworth, 2003), Handbook of Practice-based Research (Oxford, 2004) and other essay collections. Her articles have appeared in journals including Peace Psychology, Teaching of Psychology, Korean Journal of Thinking and Problem Solving, Psychologie Pratiques, Community College Journal of Research and Practice and others. She has taught at universities around the world, as a Senior Fulbright Research and Teaching Scholar in Russia for 1 year; in Brazil as a CNPq Visiting Research Scholar for 3 years; at the University of Bologna, Italy as a lecturer in 2007; and at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur as a visiting professor during 2008–09. Sherri has been a faculty member at Northern Arizona University, Yuma since 1993, where she is Professor of Educational Psychology, Counselling and Human Relations.

The phenomenal growth of psychology that North America experienced in the years following World War II was repeated in Europe in the past 20 years and is now emerging in Asia. Economists have long referred to the Asian countries as sleeping giants, and that characterization has generally applied, with a few exceptions, to psychology as well. But the giants are now awakening and this book is clear evidence of that.

Most efforts over the years to organize psychologists across national lines have not been successful, which is not surprising considering the vast territory and population represented. The Asian Psychological Association, only 3 years old, has prospered because of its recognition that Asian psychologists are happy to meet together around conferences that bring together cutting edge thinkers and a sensitivity to Asian cultures. This book give a generous sampling of the diversity of current Asian research. Readers not familiar with the unique perspective represented here will find it a rewarding feast.

- Raymond Fowler, Ph.D, Former Preseident and CEO of the American Psychological Association, President-elect of the International Association of Applied Psychology

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