Bars To Development Of Psychology In N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30845, 2 September 1965, Page 16

Bars To Development Of Psychology In N.Z.

“The most serious obstacles to the development of psychology in New Zealand are public ignorance about what precisely a competent, qualified psychologist can do and the very small number of senior opportunities for psychologists, compared with other professional groups such as medical practitioners and research scientists in chemistry or agriculture,” said Dr. R. A. M Gregson, reader in psychology at the University of Canterbury, yesterday. “Inevitably the State will continue to be the largest employer of psychologists in New Zealand, and only when the State recognises and finances the quality of psychologists the country needs (and whom the universities could produce with encouragement) will psychologists be able to serve the community here as well and effectively as they do ’ i Australia,” said Dr Gregson. Dr. Gregson was reviewing the recent conferences of the Australian and New Zealand branches of the British Psychological Society The first he attended at the University of New South Wales He then returned immediately to the second, which he helped to organise, at the University of Canterbury. Seven Years’ Training

“It is very apparent that standards today in psychology demand a very wide range of skills," said Dr Gregson. “It is virtually im possible to produce a properly-qualified psychologist in less than seven years. “This situation is coupled in Australia with an increasing demand for psychologists in the armed services. Government departments, education. and public and private medical services. Salaries and status at the senior levels are most attractive and are being developed still further.”

Australian universities were introducing post-graduate and post-doctoral courses in clinical and applied psychology. “It is invariably recognised

that any psychologist must have a sound, broad, academic background, involving mathematical, experimental and psychological knowledge, before he is in a position to specialise." Dr. Gregson said Compared with the Australian conference of 250, the New Zealand conference of 60 was small, but it was encouraging and showed clearly that psychology in New Zealand was now “on its feet" and could stand academic comparison with Australia although not yet with the United States, where, large resources and personnel had combined to build up impressive achievements. Senior Staff

“Provided we can attract and hold sufficient senior psychologists to this country, we need have no worries about being able to train our own students in the fundamental, research, or applied fields,” Dr. Gregson said. The society in New Zealand at present was a scientific or learned body, but was following the parent body in the United Kingdom in giving more attention to professional training and professional standards.

In Australia registration of psychologists was being considered to give the public added protection from charlatans or unqualified amateurs “Whether this will ever become necessary in New Zealand is an open question." said Dr. Gregson.