SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF PEACE, CONFLICT, AND VIOLENCE:
PEACE PSYCHOLOGY DIVISION
OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
DIVISION 48

The Division of Peace Psychology, established within the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1990, is a growing organization consisting of psychologists, students, and professional affiliates from diverse disciplines.

In all of its activities, the division attempts to draw on the talents that exist in its members, those that exist in various divisions of the APA, in international professional organizations, and in related disciplines. The division is a young organization that welcomes professionals and students who wish to contribute to peace. It welcomes diverse international perspectives and ethnic and gender orientations to peace.

The purpose of the division is to increase and apply psychological knowledge in the pursuit of peace. Peace here is defined broadly to include both the absence of war and the creation of positive social conditions which minimize destructive conflicts and promote human well-being.

The specific goals of the Peace Division are:

1) to encourage psychological research, education, and training on issues concerning peace, nonviolent conflict resolution, reconciliation, and the causes, consequences and prevention of war and other forms of destructive conflict;

2) to provide an organization that fosters communication among researchers, teachers, and practitioners who are working on peace issues; and

3) to apply the knowledge and the methods of psychology in the advancement of peace, non-violent conflict resolution, reconciliation, and the prevention of war and other forms of destructive conflict.

Student and Early Career Working Group Web Site

The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology functions as Division 48 of the American Psychological Association (APA). It is not necessary to belong to the APA in order to be a member of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence. Click here for more information regarding Membership in the Society.

Under the leadership of Susie McKay, president during 1995-96, the following Division 48 vision statement was developed:

As peace psychologists, our vision is the development of sustainable societies through the prevention of destructive conflict and violence, the amelioration of its consequences, the empowerment of individuals, and the building of cultures of peace and global community.

Resources concerning the use and effects of torture

The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) concurs with the policy of the APA in condemning the use of torture wherever it occurs. This web page includes the text of the APA policy statement, an annotated bibliography of relevant resources, and a listing of Internet resources. Click here for more information.

Peace Psychology Resource Project, a Division 48 new initiative!

The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology is launching this new initiative to facilitate the teaching of peace psychology. The Peace Psychology Resource Project consists of a web site with syllabi, unique class assignments, and valuable links to additional materials.

If you have a unique assignment, would like to your syllabus included, have developed peace psychology curriculum resources, or want to participate in the project as a reviewer, please contact Linda M. Woolf at woolflm@webster.edu.

Peace Education information from Psychologists for Social Responsibility

The Peace Education Action Committee has provided a number of links to committee projects and reports. These reports include:

  • Graduate programs in peace psychology
  • Evaluation of middle school peace education curricula
  • Peace education from a psychological perspective
A number of other resources from Psychologists for Social Responsibility can be found on the Peace Psychology Resource Project web page.

Graduate Level Curriculum for Trauma Intervention and Conflict Resolution In Ethnopolitical Warfare

Authored by the Ethnopolitical Warfare Curriculum Conference Planning Task Force of the Steering Committee of the Joint Initiative on Ethnopolitical Warfare of theAmerican and Canadian Psychological Associations. Secretariat of the Task Force: Psychologists for Social Responsibility, National Office, Washington, DC, May 1, 2001. Click here for more information.

Who Does What?

Division 48's Journal and Newsletter

Membership dues include a subscription to Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Members also receive The Peace Psychology Newsletter.

The editor of Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology is Richard V. Wagner, Dept of Psychology, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 04240.

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology can be subscribed to by going to Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, the publisher of the journal.

Division 48 owes Milton Schwebel a debt of gratitude for having founded the journal and serving as its editor until 2001.

Michael R. Hulsizer, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Webster University, 470 East Lockwood, St. Louis, MO 63119, is the Editor of the Division Newsletter. Queries about the Newsletter can be directed to him. If you have items of interest for the Newsletter, contact him for manuscript specifications.

Student and Early Career Working Group

Want to more about the Student and Early Career Working Group? Visit the S-EC web site!

Division 48's E-Mail Discussion Lists

For those interested, the Division operates three e-mail discussion lists or listservs. Guidelines for all Society listservs are available here.

  • APA Division Listserv - This listserv is open to members of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 of APA. To subscribe, send a message stating in the body of the text, "SUBSCRIBE DIV48" to LISTSERV@LISTS.APA.ORG

  • PeacePsych Listserv - This moderated listserv is open to anyone with an interest in peace psychology.

    Subscribe to PeacePsych
    Powered by groups.yahoo.com
  • The DIV48S-EC Listserv -This listserv serves to help keep students and early career members of Division 48 connected to the issues and events most relevant to the division's mission. While primarily a means of information dissemination, the listserv also exists to facilitate discussion the problems and potential of peace psychology. A student/early career membership with Division 48 makes one eligible to join this listserv. Contact Silvia Susnjic or write to peacepsychology@gmail.com

Division 48's Division Bylaws

Division bylaws were last amended by a membership vote in 2006. Click here to download a copy of the bylaws in PDF format: 2006 Bylaws.

Psychologists for Social Responsibility

ACT: Adults and Children Together Against Violence

The Ignacio Martin-Baro Fund for Mental Health and Human Rights

Culture of Peace and Nonviolence

Educators for Social Responsibility

Creative Response to Conflict

Center for Nonviolent Communication

The Stronach Center for Research on Peace Education

University of Massachussetts Peace Psychology Doctorate

Celebrating Peace

TIKKUN (TIKKUN = to mend, repair, and transform the world)

International Peace Practitioners' Network

Online Journal of Peace and Confllict Resolution

Additional Peace and Conflict Resolution links

Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice

Psych Watch

Social Psychology Network Electronic Forums

Comparative Psychology

Rwanda: Healing and Reconciliation

Christie, D. J., Wagner, R. V., & Winter, D. D. (Eds.) (2001). Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology for the 21st Century. Available for Free Download in PDF format!

Deutsch, M., & Coleman, P. (2000). The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. San Fransisco: Jossey Bass.

Long, W. & Brecke, P (2003). War and Reconciliation: Reason and Emotion in Conflict Resolution. Cambridge, Md: Cambridge MIT Press.

Schwebel, Milton (2003). Remaking America's Three School Systems: Now Separate and Unequal. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Education Press. )

APA Annual Convention!

Come to Boston! At the 2008 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, the Peace Division will offer symposia, discussions, workshops, and invited addresses on the psychology of peace and its implications for human rights, social justice, and global security. Click here for more information about the Society's Convention Programming.

Click here for APA Convention 2008 Registration Information.


Peace Psychology Book Available for Free Download!

Christie, D. J., Wagner, R. V., & Winter, D. D. (Eds.) (2001). Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology for the 21st Century. Available for Free Download in PDF format!

2008 Election Candidate Statements

Statements by the candidates for:
  • President-Elect
  • Secretary
  • Membership Chair
  • Treasurer
  • Member-at-Large
of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division have been posted online here.

Monitor on Psychology: Humanitarian Heroes

Visit the December 2007 issue of the Monitor on Psychology. Several members of the Society for the Study of the Peace, Conflict, and Violence are featured!

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology highlighted!

The Society's journal, Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology (Vol. 11, No. 1) is highlighted in the June 2005 issue of the Monitor on Psychology in an article entitled, "Peace psychologists, military leaders highlight soldiers' ethical dilemmas." To read the article online, Click Here.
Archived Announcements

Executive Committee Call for an APA Moratorium Resolution

The Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 of the APA (American Psychological Association) calls on the APA to adopt a Moratorium Resolution on Psychologist's Involvement in Interrogations at US Detention Centers for Foreign Detainees and Individuals Identified as "Enemy Combatants" under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Click here for more information! .

2007 APA Reaffirmation of the American Psychological Association Position Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Its Application to Individuals Defined in the United States Code as "Enemy Combatants"

2006 APA Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The American Psychological Association 2006 Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Resolution Justification Statement

Frequently Asked Questions about the Resolution

Executive Committee Responds to Queries regarding the Statement Concerning the Use of Torture with Prisoners

The Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 (APA) was recently asked by Dr. Gerald Koocher to provide clarification concerning the use of the term "coercive interrogations." Click here to read the Executive Committee's response concerning the issue of "coercive interrogation."

The Executive Committee was also contacted by Dr. Ron Levant concerning the PENS report. Click here for the Executive Committee's statement.

Executive Committee Statement Concerning the Use of Torture with Prisoners

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 of the APA (American Psychological Association) reaffirms its position denouncing the use of torture in the interrogation of prisoners. Click here for more information! .

Resources concerning the use and effects of torture

The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) concurs with the policy of the APA in condemning the use of torture wherever it occurs. This web page includes the text of the APA policy statement, an annotated bibliography of relevant resources, and a listing of Internet resources. Click here for more information.

Preamble to Terrorism Statement

It is the intention of the Division 48 Subcommittee on Terrorism that this statement should supplement the APA Resolution on Terrorism (adopted 12/08/01) and in so doing extend the ongoing dialogue. Preamble to Terrorism Statement

Division 48 Revised Terrorism Statement

Terrorist acts do not occur in a vacuum, but in a context so multidisciplinary as to summon the cooperative efforts of expertise in a large variety of academic disciplines including psychology, political science, economics, international and cultural affairs, military studies, technology, and theology. We first list psychology, the study of human behaviour, as the overarching discipline that can expand its scope while learning from other disciplines. There is much that psychology in general and peace psychology in particular can contribute to the current debate on terrorism. Three key issues merit our attention: defining terrorism, understanding what motivates terrorist acts, and deciding how psychology can best offer advice on how to respond to these acts. Read Interpreting and Responding to Terrorism

APA Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security

APA President Ron Levant has put together a Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security. Members of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division have been appointed to the Task Force. A complete list of Task Force members and their biographical information can be found here and the Final Task Report can be downloaded here. Additionally, President Levant has issued a Call for Questions and Comments in relation to the report. More information can be found here.

2006 APA Address by Spoma Jovanovic, Ph.D.

Dr. Jovanovic spoke at the 2006 APA Annual Convention and discussed her work with the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project. Click here to read Dr. Jovanovic's talk, The Greensboro Truth And Community Reconciliation Project: Communication For Community Change Or Communication For Reconciliation: Grassroots Work For Community Change.

Presidential Address by Dr. Eileen Borris, 2005 APA Convention

Eileen Borris' Presidential Address, Political Forgiveness and International Affairs was given at the 113th Convention of the American Psychological Association: Peace Division (48) in Washington, D.C. Click to read Dr. Eileen Borris' Presidential address Political Forgiveness and International Affairs.

First Annual Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award Address by Johan Galtung, 2002 Convention

Johan Galtung's Acceptance Speech for the Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award was given at the 110th Convention of the American Psychological Association: Peace Division (48) in Chicago on the 25th of August 2002. Click to read his address Exiting from the Terrorism-State Terrorism Vicious Cycle: Some Psychological Conditions.

Archived Notables

This page is maintained by Linda M. Woolf. Please direct questions and comments to her.

Linda M. Woolf's Homepage

APA Division Page

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