Global Perspectives: The Psychology of Difference

This webinar is presented by John Francis Leader (JFL), Ph.D.
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 am PT/ 10:00 am MT/ 11:00 am CT/12:00 pm ET

     
Webinar length is approx. 90 mins. The ZOOM link will be sent in a registration confirmation email and will be emailed directly to you a few days before the event.

Description

How can difference become a source of strength rather than division? And how can psychology help us move beyond simply recognising diverse perspectives towards developing complementary relationships between them?

In this talk and group discussion, Dr. John Francis Leader (JFL) will draw on work across psychology, policy and international governance to explore three rather different examples of how embracing difference can create opportunities for collaboration and shared progress.

The first example focuses on the United States and the work of the American Psychological Association's Committee for Global Psychology, including the 2026 APA Resolution on Promoting Global Perspectives in U.S. Psychology and its accompanying implementation rubric. 

The second example moves to Europe, exploring how communities with different histories, priorities and understandings of mental health have found common ground in developing a more comprehensive approach to mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.

Finally, at the global level, collaborative work on artificial intelligence governance offers an opportunity to consider our relationship with technology, including how human and digital systems might develop in complementary rather than competing ways.

Across these examples, and in the group discussion that follows, participants will be invited to consider how psychology can help us move beyond simply accommodating differences towards recognising their potential to complement and strengthen one another.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognise the value of difference in psychology, including how diverse perspectives, experiences and approaches can complement one another and contribute to shared progress.
2. Explore approaches to collaboration across differences, drawing on examples from U.S. psychology and European mental health policy to identify how common ground can be developed while respecting distinct perspectives.
3. Consider the role of psychology in AI governance, including how psychologically informed approaches can support more constructive and complementary relationships between people and technology.

Dr. John Francis Leader (JFL) works across practice, research and policy on the topics of mental health and digitalisation. JFL serves as Chair of the APA Committee for Global Psychology, Vice-President of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations and as Adjunct Research Fellow at University College Dublin’s School of Psychology. Working closely with the UN system to support healthcare and AI governance initiatives, JFL's work focuses on the importance of taking a global perspective and encouraging inclusive collaboration to promote wellbeing initiatives.

Links

• APA Committee for Global Psychology https://www.apa.org/international/governance/global-psychology
• Dr John Francis Leader https://jfl.com

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