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Bulgarian Journal of Psychology Editor-in-Chief ISSN 0861–7813 Tatiana Iancheva Deputy Editor-in-Chief Yolanda Zografova Special SEERCP2009 Editor BULGARIAN Plamen Dimitrov JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Editorial Board Bozhidar Dimitrov Elena Paspaloanova OFFICIAL PUBLICATION Plamen Kalchev Pavlina Petkova OF THE BULGARIAN Rositsa Georgieva Svetlana Dimitrova PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Snezhana Ilieva SEERCP2009, Sofia, Bulgaria CONFERENCE PAPERS – Technical Editors PART ONE Plamen Dimitrov Georgi Dinchev Journal Address: THE SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL BULGARIA, Sofia1505 CONFERENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY: 52 Cherkovna Street, suite 2 “SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE phone: 00359 2 843 5854 LOOKING AHEAD – [email protected] PARADIGMS, SCHOOLS, NEEDS www.psychology-bg.org AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF http://RCP2009.wordpress.com PSYCHOLOGY IN THE REGION” Sofia, Bulgaria 30 October – 1 November 2009 Prepress and print: East-West Publishing House Issue 3-4, 2009 This publication is sponsored by individual donations of Sava Djonev and Plamen Dimitrov Editor’S Note Dear Colleagues and Friends, Dear SEERCP2009 Contributors and Readers of the Bulgarian Journal of Psychology! Welcome to The Bulgarian Journal of Psychology’s special issue on the South-East European Regional Conference of Psychology (SEERCP2009), Sofia, 30 October – 1 November 2009, “Southeastern Europe Looking Ahead: Paradigms, Schools, Needs and Achievements of Psychology in the Region”, featuring in two volumes the conference papers presented at conference symposia. The Bulgarian Journal of Psychology is the official scientific journal of the Bulgarian Psychological Society since 1973. The Bulgarian Psychological Society is the oldest (est. 1969) and largest national association of professional psycholo- gists in Bulgaria. With the support of the International Association of Applied Psy- chology (IAAP), The International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), The International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP), and The Euro- pean Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA), The Bulgarian Psychologi- cal Society organized SEERCP2009 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Details on the conference program, the complete list of contributors, and annotation of the SEERCP2009 scientific symposia, workshops, round-tables and thematic discussions are avail- able through SEERCP2009 web-based archives: http://RCP2009.wordpress.com. This first volume – Bulgarian Journal of Psychology, 2009, 3-4, Con- ference Papers, Part One, includes original papers presented by SEERCP2009 contributors in the first three scientific SEERCP2009 symposia: Adolescents’ Health Psychology focused on understanding Health Behav- ior, Lifestyles and Needs of Young People in the SEE region. School, Educational and Developmental Psychology focused on Preven- tion of Bullying in Schools, and Youth and Family Problems. Clinical and Counseling Psychology. The next volume – Bulgarian Journal of Psychology, 2010, 1-4, Con- ference Papers, Part Two, features papers presented by SEERCP2009 contribu- tors in the symposia 4 to 10, including Applied Social Psychology, Psychology in the Economy, Public Policy and Government, Organizational Psychology, Disas- ter Management, Psychological Assessment, Research in Juvenile Justice Services, and Applied Psychology as a Profession. 4 THE BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY d 2009, 3–4 Based on feedback from SEERCP2009 participants the Regional Conference of Psychology achieved its goals and created new opportunities for further ex- change and cooperation between psychologists across the region and worldwide. We cordially invite all our colleagues from the South-East Europe to submit their research papers and study reports to the Bulgarian Journal of Psychology. Putting together this two-volume special issue of the Bulgarian Journal of Psychology took the work of many SEERCP2009 reporters, journal editors, and designers throughout the SEERCP2009 organizing committee. Many thanks to all colleagues who made this publication possible. Please send your feedback to [email protected]. Dr Plamen Dimitrov, Special SEERCP2009 Editor, Chair of SEERCP2009 Organizing Committee THE SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY: SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE LOOKING AHEAD – PARADIGMS, SCHOOLS, NEEDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF PSYCHOLOGY IN THE REGION Sofia, Bulgaria, 2009 MIKE KNOWLES President, International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) Australia Abstract. The South-East European Regional Conference of Psychology was held in Sofia from 30 October –1 November 2007 under the Patronage of the President of Bulgaria and the auspices of the International Association of Applied Psychology, the International Union of Psychological Science, and the International Associa- tion of Cross-Cultural Psychology, and was supported by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Association and the European Health Psychology Society. It was hosted by the Bulgarian Psychological Association whose President was Dr. Pla- men Dimitrov with assistance from the Department of Psychology of Sofia Uni- versity and the Institute of Psychology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The Chair of the Local Organising Committee was also Dr. Plamen Dimitrov and the Chair of the Scientific Program Committee was Professor Sava Djonev. The Confer- ence succeeded in attracting participants from 32 countries including 12 from the South-East European region. The Scientific Program General Idea The South-East European Regional Conference of Psychology was held in Sofia from 30 October –1 November 2009 and was the eighth regional conference or- ganized under the auspices of the International Association of Applied Psychol- ogy (IAAP), the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). Regional con- ferences are held every two years in between the large international congresses organized by IAAP and IUPsyS. They were introduced as a joint venture among IUPsyS, IAAP and IACCP to review the current state of psychology in a particu - lar region and foster its development by increasing communication between sci- 6 THE BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY d 2009, 3–4 entific researchers and professionals, disseminating psychological knowledge and expertise, and supporting the organization of psychology within the region. Pre- vious regional conferences have been held in Guangzhou, China (1995); Mexico City, Mexico (1997); Durban, South Africa (1999); Mumbai, India (2001) ; Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2003) ; Bangkok, Thailand (2005); and Amman, Jordan (2007). Specific Idea The present regional conference was held under the Patronage of the President of Bulgaria, and received financial support from IAAP, IUPsyS, IACCP, EFPA and EHPS. It was hosted by the Bulgarian Psychological Society whose President was Dr. Plamen Dimitrov with assistance from the Department of Psychology of Sofia University and the Institute of Psychology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The Chair of the Local Organising Committee was also Dr. Plamen Dimitrov and the Chair of the Scientific Program Committee was Professor Sava Djonev. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the SEE region is that by and large psychologists tend to look towards Western Europe and thus SEERCP of- fers the Balkan and neighbouring countries two golden opportunities. One is to foster the growth of cooperation, collaboration and cohesion in the research and practice of psychology throughout the region. The other is to stimulate the de- velopment of the national societies and associations of psychology in SEE both individually and collectively. The Conference succeeded in attracting over 350 participants of whom ap- proximately half came from the regional countries including Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey, and from coun- tries immediately outside the SEE region including Armenia, Moldova, Russia and the Ukraine. Likewise, the other half of the participants came from other Western European and neighbouring countries such as Denmark, France, Ger- many, Greece, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom as well as other countries stretching to the four corners of the world including Australia, Canada, Singa- pore, South Africa and the United States of America. The Conference was held on the central campus of St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University, Bulgaria’s principal University, which is located in downtown Sofia. Sofia University was established in the immediate aftermath of Bulgaria gaining independence in 1879 and the building on what is now its central campus com- prises three magnificent sandstone wings, all of neo-classical design. The Univer- sity is located on one corner of a triangle comprising the inner precinct of Sofia and occupies this position together with other cultural and scientific institutions such galleries, libraries, and the Academy of Sciences. The other two corners of THE SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY: SOUTHEASTERN... 7 the triangle represent the shopping and commercial centre of the city and the po- litical and administrative nucleus of the nation. THE Scientific Program The Scientific Program Group was coordinated by Prof. Sava Djonev and its struc- ture and content was developed through consultation and collaboration and was based upon over 150 proposals and suggestions that were received by the Orga- nizing Committee from national associations of psychology, other psychological institutions and individuals, all from throughout the SEE region. On the first day of the Conference the Keynote
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