International Society for 
Theoretical Psychology 


Upcoming ISTP Meeting

20th Conference of the International Society for Theoretical Psychology

Theory as Engagement

May 20-24, 2024, University of Belgrade, Serbia


A call for engaged theorising has a long history, however it seems as timely and needed today as ever, particularly in psychology. It asserts that theorising is not held aside from or even in opposition to the real world – it is because we hold the world and people, their complexity, institutions, cultures, and power seriously that we need to theorise. Theorising is inclusive, it requires dedication and time, and it is always a dialogical endeavour. Whether we theorise alone or with others, through our encounters with the authors of the past, other persons, or the world to which we belong or we imagine as a possible future. It is therefore our communal and collaborative interaction with and for the world, whether as critique, reconstruction, creation, or as an integrative account. Even more, as the world has been enflamed and seems to lose its mind, theorising is more than ever an ethical demand. Good theory is an inevitable tool for engaging in the world and contributing to individuals and communities in navigating complex environments and potential futures. The beauty of theorising is that it transcends national, historical, social, and linguistic barriers while simultaneously serving as a tool for their critical examination, provided that it is respectful, honest, transparent, dialogical, and reflexive. Theory done in an engaged way creates a shift in thinking and practice that can direct social and personal transformation.

We invite scholars from around the world and belonging to different theoretical and critical traditions in psychology and beyond to join us in presence for the 20th ISTP conference, which will take place at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, May 20–24, 2024 — our first in-person meeting since Copenhagen in 2019! We, therefore, invite communication and discussion that bring back to the fore the vital, engaged, dialogical nature of the exercise of theorising as well as its historical, institutional, ethical, or societal implications.

We welcome symposia submissions, round tables, oral presentations, posters, or any other format you will see as fitting to convey your ideas about theory as engagement.

Submissions deadlinebefore December 1, 2023

For additional information and updates on the conference, please visit the ISTP 2024 conference website.

For more information on submission types and guidelines, visit the Submission section.

Download the pdf version of the Call for Papers here, or a black-and-white printable version of the Call for Papers here.



Past ISTP Biennial Meetings

Sacramento, United States of America, May-June 2022 (Basia Elis, Chair)

Copenhagen, Denmark, August 19-23, 2019 (Ditte Winther-Lindqvist, Chair)

Tokyo, Japan, August 21-25, 2017 (Tetsuya Kono, Chair)

Coventry, UK, June 26-30, 2015 (Gavin Sullivan, Chair)

Sullivan, G. B., Cresswell, J., Ellis, B. et al. (Eds.) Resistance and Renewal in Theoretical PsychologyConcord, ON: Captus Press. ISBN 978-1-55322-352-8

Santiago, Chile, May 3-7, 2013 (Antonia Larrain and Andres Haye, Co-chairs)

A short video, prepared by Basia Ellis (a graduate student at the University of Calgary), of some of the conference participants' reflections on the conference can be found here.

Cresswell, J., Haye, A., Larrain, A., Morgan, M., & Sullivan, G. (2015). Dialogue and debate in the making of theoretical psychology.  Concord, ON: Captus Press. ISBN 978-1-55322-328-3.

Thessaloniki, Greece, June 27-July 1, 2011 (Athanasios Marvakis, Chair)

This conference took place during a tense and difficult time for the city of Thessaloniki and the people of Greece. At the Business Meeting, members of the Society agreed by majority to issue a statement in support of the people of Greece, who were strongly protesting their government's austerity measures. Click here for the full statement and signatories.

For comments on the conference provided by some of the delegates, click on the link to this VIDEO.

Marvakis, A., Motzkau, J., Painter, D., Ruto-Korir, R., Sullivan, G., Triliva, S., & Wieser, M. (2013). Doing psychology under new conditions. Concord, ON: Captus Press. ISBN 978-1-55322-279-8.

Nanjing, China, May 15-19, 2009 (Ye Haosheng, Chair) 

Stenner, P., Cromby, J., Motzkau, J., Yen, J., & Haosheng, Y. (2011). Theoretical psychology: Global transformations and challenges.Concord, ON: Captus Press. ISBN 978-1-55322-240-8.

Toronto, Canada, June 18-22, 2007 (Thomas Teo, Chair)

Teo, T., Stenner, P., Rutherford, A., Park, E., & Baerveldt, C. (Eds.). (2009). Varieties of theoretical psychology: International Philosophical and Practical Concerns. Concord, ON: Captus Press. ISBN 978-1-55322-206-4.

Cape Town, South Africa, June 20-24, 2005 (Vasi van Deventer, Chair)

Van Deventer, V., Tere Blanche, M., Fourie, E., & Segalo, P. (Eds.). (2007). Citizen city: Between constructing agent and constructed agency. Toronto: Captus University Publications. ISBN 978-1-55322-164-7.

Istanbul, Turkey, June 22-27, 2003 (Aydan Gülerce, Chair)

Gulerce, A., Hofmeister, A., Staeuble, I., Saunders, G., & Kaye, J. (Eds.). (2005). Contemporary theorizing in psychology: Global perspectives. Toronto: Captus University Publications. ISBN 1-55322-109-5.

The 10th Biennial Conference of International Society for Theoretical Psychology was held in Istanbul on 22-27 June 2003
The following was a statement of the aims of the conference: As the 10th biennial meeting of the ISTP, this anniversary conference aims to constitute a facilitating platform for reflections and forward-looking discussions in all important areas in theoretical psychology. Therefore, no particular main theme has been selected by the academic committee for the conference. As rapid transformations of our world, due in particular to globalization and particularization processes, for example, call upon theoretical psychologists for novel and socially relevant understandings, contributions on topics of interest advancing that aim are especially encouraged. These topics include, but are not limited to, cultural critiques; feminist critiques; gender and globalization; metatheoretical reflections; new agendas for the 21st century; politics of psychological knowledge; psychological theory and social practice in complex societies; psychology and interdisciplinarity; sociohistorical insights; and understanding and dealing with diversity. The participation will be in the form of keynote addresses, invited panels, symposia, thematic paper and poster sessions, and a special event. The site of the 2003 conference is at the crossroads of many cultural, sociopolitical and religious worlds. We expect colorful and productive dialogues between the colleagues from all around the world.

Calgary, Canada, June 3-8, 2001 (Hank Stam and Lorraine Radtke, Co-Chairs)

Stephenson, N., Radtke, H.L., Jorna, R., & Stam, H.J. (Eds.). (2003). Theoretical psychology: Critical contributions. Toronto: Captus University Publications. ISBN 1-5532-055-2.

Sydney, Australia, April 25-28, 1999 (Valerie Walkerdine, Chair)

Morss, J.R., Stephenson, N., & van Rappard, H. (Eds.). (2001). Theoretical issues in psychology. Boston/Dordrecht/London: Kluwer Academic Publishers. ISBN 0-7923-7337-5.

Berlin, Germany, April 27-May 2, 1997 (Wolfgang Maiers, Chair)

Maiers, W., Bayer, B., Esgalhado, B.D., Jorna, R., & Schraube, E. (Eds.). (1999). Challenges to theoretical psychology. Toronto: Captus University Publications. ISBN 1-896691-75-7.

Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, May 21-26, 1995 (Fran Cherry and Warren Thorngate, Co-Chairs)

Tolman, C.W., Cherry, F., van Hezewijk, R., & Lubek, I. (Eds.). (1996). Problems of theoretical psychology. Toronto: Captus University Publications. ISBN 1-89691-17-X.

Bierville, France, April 25-30, 1993 (Erika Apfelbaum, Chair)

Lubek, I., van Hezewijk, R., Pheterson, G., & Tolman, C.W. (Eds.). (1995). Trends and issues in theoretical psychology. New York: Springer Publishing Co. ISBN 0-8261-8810-9.

Clark University, Worcester, USA, June 24-28, 1991 (Bernie Kaplan, Chair)

Stam, H.J., Mos, L.J., Thorngate, W., & Kaplan, B. (Eds.). (1993). Recent trends in theoretical psychology. Vol. III. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-97963-8; 3-540-97311-8.

Arnhem, The Netherlands, April 17-21, 1989 (Hans van Rappard and René van Hezewijk, Co-Chairs)

Baker, W.J., Hyland, M.E., van Hezewijk, R., & Terwee, S. (Eds.). (1990). Recent trends in theoretical psychology. Vol. II. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-97311-7; 3-540-97311-7.

Banff, Canada, April 20-25, 1987 (Leo Mos, Chair)

Baker, W.J., Mos, L.P., van Rappard, H.J., & Stam, H.J. (Eds.). (1988). Recent trends in theoretical psychology. New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-96757-5; 3-540-96757-5.

Plymouth, UK, Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 1985 (Michael Hyland, Chair): Founding Conference

Baker, W.J., Hyland, M.E., van Rappard, H.J., & Staats, A.W. (Eds.). (1987). Current issues in theoretical psychology. Amsterdam: North Holland/Elsevier. ISBN 0-444-70120-6.


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software