European Psychologist’s Roots and Perspectives
Landmarks for the New Editorship
Since its founding in 1996, European Psychologist has served as the flagship journal of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) and therefore of the broad field of European psychology. For many years, it has contributed to the positive development of psychology as both a science and a profession, sharpening its identity and formulating answers to pressing social issues. The recent 25th anniversary of European Psychologist provided an occasion to look back and look ahead (Pawlik et al., 2020).
In its early years, the journal was an expression of the increasing integration of psychology in Europe. The aim was to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the European Union for psychology and to fill a similar role for Europe as American Psychologist did for North America. As the English-language voice of psychology in Europe, it was to present psychology in all its breadth. The journal itself published both original articles and reports on current issues in psychology across Europe. As the official journal of EFPA, it also contained information related to the federation’s activities.
The journal quickly found its place in the academic world of psychology, focusing increasingly on both the presentation of psychological research in Europe and on evidence-based practice. European Psychologist thus promoted an early understanding of the link between evidence-based practice and practice-informed research and for many years has been making an important contribution to linking science and practice in Europe, particularly when it comes to pressing social issues. And in all of this, it has succeeded in presenting both basic research as well as research in applied psychology.
Societal challenges, changes in psychology’s self-image, and special concerns and topics in basic research have repeatedly prompted the editorial team to reflect on the journal’s direction. In 2011, this led to a shift of focus for the journal towards reviews and meta-analyses, with the goal of supporting wider dissemination of fundamental information and self-reflection in the field. So that topics could be covered in a well-founded and well-rounded manner, increasing use was made of special topical issues. As well as disseminating well-validated information, these conceptual developments in terms of content also significantly boosted the journal’s impact.
At the same time, important administrative changes supported the development of the journal: its indexing and availability in all the relevant databases, the involvement of a large number of associated editors and editorial consultants, and the intensive dialog on the further development of the journal with the publisher, in particular with Jürgen Hogrefe and Robert Dimbleby. Events such as the meetings of the editors with readers and contributors during EFPA’s European Congresses continue today to promote dialog with our community. And I think it fair to say that our field’s knowledge of the high-quality, reliable review process has also promoted the broad recognition of the journal.
Our task now is to secure and build on these successes and continue the positive development of European Psychologist into the future. As intended from the outset, the aim will be to present psychology in all its breadth. The focus will, of course, be on psychology in Europe. However, this in no way aims to exclude voices from outside Europe from being heard. The breadth of psychology involves both a diversity of topics and of geographical study areas, as well as various traditions and roots – and in particular the dialog between the science and the profession.
European Psychologist has served EFPA well, and the Federation is proud of the positive development that the journal has undergone. In recent years, EFPA and Hogrefe Publishing have significantly strengthened and expanded their cooperation. Together, they are convinced that European Psychologist should retain their original character despite all the innovative developments in the world of publishing.
Going forward, European Psychologist will therefore continue to focus on reflective, synthesizing reviews and meta-analyses that are relevant to the field as a whole. News and updates from the individual associations that make up EFPA are now available on the web or social media and are no longer be published in the journal. However, we see an opportunity to take up and strengthen a focus from the founding period of European Psychologist, namely analysis of and recommendations concerning current social issues from a psychological standpoint, which are also a core focus of the EFPA strategy.
As a global society, we are currently facing difficult fundamental challenges. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals give a clear impression of some of them. Psychology as a science and as a profession can make important contributions to overcoming and coping with these and challenges and related crises. European Psychologist aims to publish work with empirically sound findings that help provide evidence-based answers to pressing social issues. So readers are cordially invited to submit relevant contributions such as reviews or meta-analyses, either as individual contributions or as part of a special issue. Together with the Managing Editor, Kristen Lavallee, we at the editorial team will ensure that, as in the past, all contributions are managed via a reliable and sophisticated review system. In close cooperation with the publisher and the federation we aim to ensure that the valuable information and analysis contained within our published works are disseminated widely throughout the field of European psychology, and thus provide needed insight, in research, in practice, and in policy.
I would like to thank the scholars who have submitted their work over the years, the publishing team led by Jürgen Hogrefe and Robert Dimbleby, the editorial board, a host of ad hoc reviewers, associate editors Katariina Salmela-Aro, Alexandra Freund, and Urs Nater, and Managing Editor Kristen Lavallee, who have together made the positive development of the journal possible. Special thanks go to Peter Frensch, who as Editor-in-Chief has overseen the European Psychologist so successfully in recent years. I greatly appreciate all of you as colleagues who, as editors, authors, or reviewers, have supported and continue to support the positive development of this important journal today and in the future.
With many thanks and best regards,
Christoph Steinebach
After having worked at a child guidance clinic for some years, Christoph Steinebach became head of a center for early education. During these years he worked with children and families conducting diagnostic evaluations, and providing counseling and supervision services. In 1995, Dr. Steinebach became a professor of special education at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Freiburg, Germany (CUASF), serving for 12 years as lecturer, head of the Institute of Research and Development, and later as president of CUASF. Starting in 2007, he became a professor at the Zürich University of Applied Sciences, later serving there as dean of the School of Applied Psychology, and director of the Institute of Applied Psychology, Zürich (Switzerland). Starting in 2013, he also served as an adjunct professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada. In addition, Dr. Steinebach is currently president of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA), president of the Swiss Foundation Suzanne and Hans Biäsch, and member of the Executive Council of the Swiss Psychological Society (SPS).
References
(2020). Editorial. European Psychologist’s 25th anniversary. Developments and perspectives. European Psychologist, 25(4), 231–236. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000428
