Psychology Teaching in Europe

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of psychology teaching in Europe. A variety of different sources are used, including published articles, a survey, and a sampling of students' opinions. The evidence indicates that there are three main models of training: continuous generic; continuous specialist; and discontinuous specialist, in which students receive a genera1 training for 3 years before specializing. Despite variations in the curriculum taught, the basic areas covered seem to be similar in most countries. Psychology students in Europe are predominantly female. Despite the many differences, it seems that European psychology is less disparate than it first appears, partly because of the Americanization of much European psychology. Psychology can provide a valuable perspective on many of the problems currently besetting Europe, and for this and other reasons the future of psychology appears bright.