Plenary Session: Challenges in Global Psychological Science

This session will tackle the pressing challenges and exciting possibilities of advancing psychology on a global scale. Michele Gelfand will offer forward-looking perspectives on navigating cultural and societal complexities. Waikaremoana Waitoki will challenge us to confront the legacies of racism, colonialism, and epistemic injustice, calling for decolonized approaches that honor Indigenous knowledge, lived experience, and collective care. Batja Mesquita will highlight how diverse social contexts shape human behavior and psychological understanding, revealing the richness of cultural variation. Kevin Durrheim will explore how Large Language Models mirror human intelligence, culture, and bias, offering tools to illuminate social dynamics and emphasizing ethical responsibility. Together, the panel inspires a psychology that listens, learns, and innovates with justice, inclusivity, and global impact at its heart.