SPIRITUALITY AND HUMANITARIAN PRACTICES WORKING GROUP 2020/21 IN THE PEACE PSYCHOLOGY DIVISION OF THE APA

Our peace building projects over the past 27 years and over 250 presentations have included 5 international endeavors. The latest focus has been on the expansion of Resiliency.

The effort to build interfaith harmony has taken place through community counsels; local university venues; townhall events and symposia. The last 2 were held, virtually at APA.

This WG created a questionnaire to evaluate the significance of spirituality on attitudes toward peace. These studies used international samples and the results were published in the Oxford University Journal https://www.journalofacademicperspectives.com. In addition, we contributed an article in: “Dao and Daoist Ideas for Scientists, Humanists, and Practitioners” as edited by Dr’s Yueh-Ting-Lee and Linda Holt.

We have networked with The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and The Institute for Crisis Management, both dedicated to national wellness and peace: http://www.nationalcenterforemotionalwellness.org/engaging-resilience. Our resiliency paradigm is a multidimensional, transformational process consisting of mind, body, emotion, and spiritual elements.

A project of establishing www.voicesofconscience.org involves working with the Center on Conscience and War who provide services to members of the military in need of care.

A model sustainable community was created in Hawaii, several elements are being utilized in Haiti and different U.S. cities.

Anyone wishing further information contact Steve peacewk@peacwk.org