Innovation and technology to shake up psychological science

Abstract

Psychology is a science essential to the evolution of technology, engineering, and mathematics (Breckler, 2010). Nevertheless, technology and innovation have not had an easy link with psychology worldwide and it is no different in Brazil. This special issue of Trends in Psychology Temas em Psicologia, is not a thorough review on this subject, but a small and biased sample of innovation and technology in Brazilian psychology.Psychology connects with other sciences. As new technologies emerge, psychology both borrows from other sciences' theories and methods and enriches other sciences with theories and methods (Breckler, 2013). On the other hand, the public understanding of psychologists and of psychology has not matched the potential of this science (Weber, Pavei, & Biscaia, 2005) since the last century (Leme, Bussab & Otta, 1989). Psychology is not included in the science curriculum at school, even though knowledge of the subject could help people to live better. Not surprisingly, funding opportunities are unlikely to consider psychology as a technological discipline because not knowing the science of psychology undermines its growth as a discipline and as a profession (Beckler, 2013;Falcão, 2013). The American Psychological Association sets out to increase recognition of psychology as a science as a main goal of its strategic plan (APA, 2009) and to enhance psychology's prominence as a core discipline in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Breckler, 2010).In order to promote awareness, understanding, and ultimately funding for our research, researchers and psychologists must be aware that the discipline of psychology is innovative and technological. The proposal for this special issue was born inside the working group on Psychobiology, Neuroscience and Behavior of the Associação Nacional de Pesquisa e Pós Graduação em Psicologia [National Association of Research and Postgraduate Study in Psychology] (ANPEPP). The aim was to trigger and expand this debate to other areas in psychology.In 2012 the group participated in the II Encontro Nacional de Processos Psicológicos Básicos [Second National Meeting of Basic Psychological Processes] (ENPPB), a satellite meeting of ANPEPP symposium, where a seminar on science and technology was organized by Alcyr Oliveira (ENPPB, 2012). In this seminar, Dora Ventura, Sebastião Almeida and Rochelle Fonseca suggested strategies to increase visibility, funding, and interdisciplinary innovative research, following national and international trends. Technology and innovation are present in Brazilian psychology, but we should show how it has being incorporated. We need fi rst to understand and defi ne technology and innovation and identify it in our fi elds and efforts. This lack of comprehension prevents research psychologists (and graduate students) from competing for national and international funding opportunities and a wide range of collaborative work.In the last two years the importance of innovation and technology has become even clearer. Brazil has a leading role...