International Society for Theoretical Psychology
The International Society for Theoretical Psychology (ISTP) is an international forum for theoretical, meta-theoretical and philosophical discussions in psychology, with a focus on contemporary psychological debates. Founded in the early 1980s, its objective is to stimulate theoretical arguments and innovations, to foster integration across areas and traditions of research, and to promote interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to psychological questions. It aims to serve as the stage for the discussion of new theoretical ideas and conceptual frameworks, for the critical engagement of different theoretical approaches, and for discussions concerning the relation of theoretical psychology to other disciplines, to the history of psychology and to the philosophy of knowledge.
Upcoming Conference 2026
For more than 40 years, the biennial conferences are the heart of ISTP. They are not just a forum for individual presentations of current research, but rather an intensive, week-long experience of listening to each other, debating, collaborating, making new friends, and thinking things further together.
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, USA | June 8–12, 2026
Chair: Martin Dege
Program Committee: Michael Bamberg (Clark University), Dan Boscov-Ellen (Pratt Institute), Nandita Chaudhary (Federal University of Bahia), Carolin Demuth (Aalborg University), Yasuhiro Igarashi (Yamano College of Aesthetics), Luka Luçić (Pratt Institute), Desmond Painter (Stellenbosch University), Ernst Schraube (Roskilde University), Paul Stenner (Open University), Luca Tateo (University of Oslo), Thomas Teo (York University), Tania Zittoun (University of Neuchâtel)
Theorizing in Dark Times – Art, Narrative, Politics
At the heart of the conference lies the question: What is the role of theory in dark times? Theoretical psychology has long sought to understand the human condition, yet in moments of global crisis, theory itself becomes a site of political resistance. The conference will examine how theory functions as a political force, shaping narratives of power, ideology, and agency. It will address the political implications of psychological theory, asking how psychological concepts, often regarded as neutral or apolitical, become entangled with broader social and political dynamics.
Keynote Speakers:
Deadline for submitting a contribution is October 1, 2025
Submit early if you need an early response (for visa, flight, or other reasons).
ISTP Journals
–Theory & Psychology
– International Review of Theoretical Psychologies
Our Journals
The publication and discussion of psychological theory is a central mission of ISTP. The Society is directly involved in two journals. Theory & Psychology, published by SAGE, is one of the leading journals for theory in psychology. More recently, ISTP has launched the International Review of Theoretical Psychologies as an open access platform to help publish the work presented at its conferences.
Recent Topics
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Future issue
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Become a Member Now
Support our Mission. Receive Theory & Psychology for free.
“Be part of an intellectual research community that takes the problems of our time seriously.”
Ernst Schraube
Past President, ISTP
Member Benefits
– be part of a global network
– reduced conference fees
– free journal access
Past Conferences
Belgrade, Serbia | May 2024
Chairs: Tania Zittoun, Biljana Stanković, & Tijana Nikitović
Theory as Engagement
Keynote Speakers:
–Alex Gillespie, London School of Economics, UK
– Sanne Akkerman, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
– Rastko Močnik, University of Ljubljana, Serbia
– Thomas Teo, York University, Toronto, Canada
Sacramento, USA | May 2022
Chair: Basia Ellis
Building Community: Theoretical Psychology in the Service of Social Issues
Keynote Speakers:
–Regina Langhout, University of California Santa Cruz, USA
–Peter Pál Pelbart, Pontifical Catholic University in São Paulo, Brazil
–Puleng Segalo, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
– Alexander Sidorkin, California State University, Sacramento, USA
Copenhagen, Denmark | August 2019
Chair: Ditte Winther-Lindqvist
Measured Lives: Theoretical Psychology in an Era of Acceleration
Keynote Speakers:
–Hartmut Rosa, University of Jena, Germany
–Dorte Marie Søndergaard, Aarhus University, Denmark
–Uffe Juul Jensen, Aarhus University, Denmark
– Pablo Oyarzún Robles, University of Chile, Chile
– Anne Phoenix, University College London, UK
Statement from the President
“Theorising in psychology is vital – it is an ethical requirement in our dialogue with others and the world.”
Tania Zittoun
President, ISTP
Activities
ISTP Seminar Series: Theorizing About Objects in Psychology, September 30, 2024, 4:00-6:00 pm, CST time
The ISTP Virtual Seminar Series Spaces for Theoretical Explorations will start in September 2024 with a focus on theorizing about objects in psychology. The first seminar is organized in collaboration with the Society for Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology (APA Division 24).
Chairs: Floor van Alphen, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain & Marie-Cécile Bertau, University of West Georgia, USA.
Summer School: Reparation, Inclusion, and Emotions, January 3–4, 2024
In collaboration with ISTP, the Doctoral Program in Psychology at the University Alberto Hurtado in Chile, is organizing this Summer School for doctoral students and researchers.
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The International Society for Theoretical Psychology
– Contact Us – Attend our Conferences