January 2025 – Statement of the President
Dear Friends of Psychohistory, Dear Members of the International Psychohistorical Association,
We stand at the threshold of the year 2025 that will prove crucial to our discipline. I extend my warmest wishes to each of you, hoping that the challenges we face domestically and worldwide will unfold in the best possible way—and I hope you will participate actively!
Indeed, how can you contribute to this evolution?
Belonging to the IPhA means being part of a community of researchers dedicated to understanding the dynamics within us, both individually and collectively. The psychohistorical approach brings together various disciplines, each with its own perspective. You’ll find partners of all ages and cultural backgrounds, and our contributions to peaceful conflict resolution involve a mode of communication based on respect and acceptance of diverse points of view in a spirit of mutual understanding.
The IPhA brings together clinicians, historians, and researchers from many disciplines who focus on the importance of childhood, how history, public affairs, and culture shape and are, in turn, shaped by the psychology of groups and individuals. We are proud to be one of the couple organizations in the USA doing this vital work. Our annual Conference and stand-alone events are highly anticipated each year, and our working groups meet monthly to discuss a wide range of topics, from faith and justice to the evolution of parenthood, transgenerational transmissions, and the analysis of group extremism.
The Virtual Conference on mass killings by teenagers in this country last December was a highlight (https://mindmendmedia.com/adolescent-mass-shootings-understanding-causes-and-preventing-tragedies/). I’m also thrilled about the quality of our Annual Conference next May. The theme is “Imagining Brighter Futures for our Divided World,” and we’ve got exceptional guests lined up. We’ll be exploring topics related to children’s mental health, trauma healing, the role of women in social transformation, and resilience and conflict resolution using case studies.
Please check out the program, sign up today, and submit a proposal for a presentation using the provided form by January 13! I hope to count on your participation and urge you to renew your membership for the annual fee of $50. By adding $20 today, you’ll gain full access to our May 2025 Conference (https://psychohistory.us/conference/).
Other benefits include a subscription to our newsletter, now an online Journal published quarterly and featuring an index and cross-references allowing you to search by theme.
Our research community is stronger together, and I’m confident that by working along with you, we can achieve great things. The psychohistorical approach is applied in a wide variety of disciplines, including psychoanalysis, psychology, attachment, terror management, and family systems theories. This allows us to understand diverse aspects of human behavior and make sense of ideologies and cultural transformations. I’m thrilled to have you on board as a supporting member and am confident that this new year will make the difference for the projects and growth of our community.
With my warmest regards and best wishes,
Marc-André Cotton
President of the IPhA