ISTP Biennial Conferences

The first ISTP conference was held in Plymouth, UK, in 1985. Here is an overview of all ISTP conferences, including location, conference theme, and publications.

Brooklyn Conference 2026

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.

Call for Papers

see here

Belgrade Conference 2024

University of Belgrade, Serbia | May 20–24, 2024

Chairs: Tania Zittoun, Biljana Stanković, & Tijana Nikitović

Theory as Engagement

Publications

Coming soon

Sacramento Conference 2022

California State University, Sacramento, USA | May 27–28 and June 3–4, 2022

Chair: Basia Ellis

Building Community: Theoretical Psychology in the Service of Social Issues

Ellis, B. D., Cresswell, J., Jovanović, G., & Morrissey, M. B. (Eds.). (2023). Building community: Theoretical psychology in the service of social issues. International Review of Theoretical Psychologies, 2 (1).

Copenhagen Conference 2019

Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark | August 19–23, 2019

Chair: Ditte Winther-Lindqvist

Measured Lives: Theoretical Psychology in an Era of Acceleration

Winther-Lindqvist, D., Andrés Haye, A., Kousholt, D., Murakami, K., Nissen, M., & Tau, R. (Eds.). (2021). Measured lives: Theoretical psychology in an era of acceleration. International Review of Theoretical Psychologies, 1 (1).

Tokyo Conference 2017

Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan | August 21–25, 2017

Chair: Tetsuya Kono

The Ethos of Theorizing

Murakami, K., Cresswell, J., Kono, T., & Zittoun, T. (Eds.). (2019). The ethos of theorizing. Captus University Publications.

Coventry Conference 2015

Coventry University, UK | June 25–30, 2015

Chair: Gavin Brent Sullivan

Resistance and Renewal

Sullivan, G. B., Cresswell, J., Ellis, B., Morgan, M., & Schraube, E. (Eds.). (2017). Resistance and Renewal in Theoretical Psychology. Captus University Publications.

Santiago Conference 2013

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago, Chile | May 3–7, 2013

Chairs: Antonia Larrain & Andres Haye

Dialogue and Debate in the Making of Theoretical Psychology

Cresswell, J., Haye, A., Larrain, A., Morgan, M., & Sullivan, G. (Eds.). (2015). Dialogue and debate in the making of theoretical psychology. Captus University Publications.

Thessaloniki Conference 2011

Aristotle University Thessaloniki, Greece | June 27–July 1, 2011

Chair: Athanasios Marvakis

Doing Psychology Under New Conditions

Marvakis, A., Motzkau, J., Painter, D., Ruto-Korir, R., Sullivan, G., Triliva, S., & Wieser, M. (Eds.). (2013). Doing psychology under new conditions. Captus University Publications.

Nanjing Conference 2009

University of Nanjing, China | May 15–19, 2009

Chair: Ye Haosheng

“East”, “West”, “South”, “North”: Challenges and Transformations in Theoretical Psychology

Stenner, P., Cromby, J., Motzkau, J., Yen, J., & Haosheng, Y. (Eds.). (2011). Theoretical psychology: Global transformations and challenges. Captus University Publications.

Toronto Conference 2007

York University, Toronto, Canada | June 18–22, 2007

Chair: Thomas Teo

Theoretical Psychology Beyond Boarders: Transcisciplinarity and Internationalization

Teo, T., Stenner, P., Rutherford, A., Park, E., & Baerveldt, C. (Eds.). (2009). Varieties of theoretical psychology: International philosophical and practical concerns. Captus University Publications.

Cape Town Conference 2005

University of Cape Town, South Africa | June 20–24, 2005

Chair: Vasi van Deventer

Citizen City: Between Constructing Agent and Constructed Agency

Van Deventer, V., Tere Blanche, M., Fourie, E., & Segalo, P. (Eds.). (2007). Citizen city: Between constructing agent and constructed agency. Captus University Publications.

Istanbul Conference 2003

Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey | June 22–27, 2003

Chair: Aydan Gülerce

Contemporary Theorizing in Psychology: Global Perspectives

Gulerce, A., Hofmeister, A., Staeuble, I., Saunders, G., & Kaye, J. (Eds.). (2005). Contemporary theorizing in psychology: Global perspectives. Captus University Publications.

Calgary Conference 2001

University of Calgary, Canada | June 3–8, 2001

Chairs: Hank Stam & Lorraine Radtke

Theoretical Psychology: Critical Contributions

Stephenson, N., Radtke, H.L., Jorna, R., & Stam, H.J. (Eds.). (2003). Theoretical psychology: Critical contributions. Captus University Publications.

Sydney Conference 1999

University of Western Sydney, Australia | April 25–28, 1999

Chair: Valerie Walkerdine

Theoretical Issues in Psychology

Morss, J.R., Stephenson, N., & van Rappard, H. (Eds.). (2001). Theoretical issues in psychology. Kluwer.

Berlin Conference 1997

Free University Berlin, Germany | April 27–May 2, 1997

Chairs: Wolfgang Maiers, Dimitris Papadopoulos, & Ernst Schraube

Challenges to Theoretical Psychology

Maiers, W., Bayer, B., Esgalhado, B.D., Jorna, R., & Schraube, E. (Eds.). (1999). Challenges to theoretical psychology. Captus University Publications.