Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is both my privilege and my pleasure to invite you to the XXIX International Congress of Psychology 2008 (ICP 2008). ICP 2008 will be hosted by the German Federation of Psychologists' Associations, under the auspices of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), and will take place in the exciting city of Berlin.

Because the major purpose of the congress is to present an outstanding scientific program, the Scientific Committee of ICP 2008, along with the IUPsyS national member societies, has selected world renowned scientists from all fields of psychology and from many different countries as invited speakers and symposia conveners. I am very pleased to say that by far most of the scientists we contacted were eager to come to Berlin.

ICP 2008 offers a truly exquisite scientific program that will include more than 80 invited addresses with speakers from 44 countries and more than 200 invited symposia with conveners from over 60 countries. In addition to symposia, thematic oral sessions, and interactive poster sessions, we introduce a new format in Berlin that we hope will stimulate discussion during the meeting. Controversial debates will focus on topics that are both inherently important and interesting to all of us as psychologists. The debates will take place at prominent time slots and will be moderated by some of the best psychological scientists in the world.

Berlin is ideally suited to provide an atmosphere of true international spirit as the city has learned to deal successfully with the diversities of systems and the coexistence of different cultures. Today, the German capital is a modern, lively, vibrant, fascinating city in the center of Europe with historic, cultural, scientific, and modern achievements, a city you will enjoy to visit. The scientific Berlin comprises 17 universities and colleges and 70 non-university research institutes where more than 40,000 scientists and 140,000 students work and study.

The XXIX International Congress of Psychology will be an event that covers the whole of psychology in an exciting social environment, that extends our knowledge, improves on our practice, and widens our friendship networks. This will be the main psychological meeting in the year 2008. We do hope that you will make it a priority to attend.

Come and enjoy!

Professor Peter A. Frensch
Congress President, ICP 2008 

Dear Colleagues,

The International Congress of Psychology comes only once in a quadrennium. Thus, it presents a very special opportunity for face-to-face exchanges of information on the state of psychology, basic and applied. It is my delight to welcome you to the XXIX International Congress of Psychology hosted by our German colleagues in the marvelous city of Berlin. Our hosts have been working diligently for some years to make this event a seminal one in our professional lives, and by all indicators they have succeeded. Here you will have access to the best in contemporary psychology from around the world. Your work presented here will reach thousands of scholars from nearly a hundred countries. You will also be able to participate in new Congress features such as “Controversial Debates”.

When the International Union of Psychological Science accepted Germany’s offer to host our XXIX International Congress of Psychology, the Union was cognizant that we would be coming back to the land of Stumpf, Wundt, Hering, Weber,
Fechner, Ebbinghaus, and other pioneers in psychology. This rich tradition in psychological science has endured to the present day. The Union’s selection was made in hopes that such a return to the roots of scientifi c psychology would afford us special opportunities for renewing ourselves and our discipline.

As President of the International Union of Psychological Science, I want to take this opportunity to express the Union’s deep and sincere thanks to Congress President Professor Dr. Peter Frensch and his dedicated team of colleagues who have worked so hard to bring this Congress to fruition. Professor Frensch and his committee chairpersons have been marvelous leaders for the Congress, persisting through many challenges. Without them and their many colleagues, there would be no Congress.

I hold high expectations for this Congress, and I invite you to join in the Congress with gusto. Come, and both learn and teach. And, also enjoy the rich cultural environment that Berlin offers to you. This is a special event not to be missed.

Warmly,

Professor J. Bruce Overmier
President, International Union of Psychological Science

Dear Colleagues,

The German Federation of Psychologists’ Associations feels honored to host the XXIX International Congress of Psychology 2008 in Germany (ICP 2008) under the auspices of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS).

There has been a long tradition of psychological science in Germany for more than 130 years as well as a short but impressive history of psychological practice after the Second World War.

To increase the international perspective again and to support the networking
of scientists and professionals, the German Federation of Psychologists’ Associations was founded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychologie (DGPs) and the Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologen (BDP) in 1959.

More than 50.000 colleagues are representing science and the profession in various fields. A subgroup of 27.000 colleagues is regulated by law and works in the field of psychotherapy.

For the third time, the International Congress of Psychology takes place in Germany. Many outstanding international researchers and teachers of psychology were invited to exchange latest research findings and models of teaching and practicing psychology with more than 8.000 participants from more than 100 countries.

It is my pleasure to thank Bruce Overmier as President of the IUPsyS for the advice and support the Union has given to the Congress Organizers. I am grateful to the Congress President, Peter Frensch, and colleagues in the committees for making the ICP 2008 such a big success and an attractive meeting point for the community of psychology in 2008.

Welcome! Bienvenue! Willkommen!

Carola Brücher-Albers
Chair, German Federation of Psychologists’ Association