Experts meet to apply Asian perspective to psychology

Experts meet to apply Asian perspective to psychology
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Psychologists from Asia and several western nations will meet on the Indonesian island of Bali this week to develop an Asian perspective to their work, including theories on preventing terrorism.

"Long-time studies and experience have proven that not all western theories fit the eastern context," Sarlito Sarwono, chairman of the one-year-old Asian Psychologist Association, was quoted by AFP as saying late Tuesday.

Western theories and paradigms dominate the science of psychology. But
developments including the rise of Asian economies, terrorism in Indonesia and disasters in Asia have prompted more thought about Asian perspectives, he said.

Psychologists from around the world now see "that the Asian community
should be seen from an Asian perspective, and not the psychological approaches developed in the west," Sarwono told a press briefing.

Monty Satiadarma, the organisation's secretary, said the congress hoped "to provide more opportunity for Asian psychologists to develop approaches for Asian problems."

Among the topics to be covered at the two-day weekend seminar will be terrorism psychology, Sarwono said.

Bekto Suprapto, who heads Indonesia's anti-terror detachment, will give a
briefing on the country's handling of terror cases, while Sarwono will present psychological profiles of some key detained terrorists.

Indonesia has suffered a spate of bombings by Islamic extremists in recent years, including the October 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people -- mostly western holidaymakers.

Using Asian approaches, the symposium was aimed at helping the world
develop more effective programs to prevent terrorism, the association said.

"It is necessary to find a way to prevent future terrorism and to develop
counselling techniques for the detainees to prevent them from becoming terror recidivists," Sarwono added.

About 150 participants from nine Asian countries as well as Australia,
Canada and the Netherlands will attend the meeting. (*)