ABSTRACT
The Paris congress was held on July 18–25, 1976, and was attended by nearly 3000 psychologists and over 500 accompanying persons from 64 different countries. As President of the congress, Paul Fraisse joined IUPS President Joseph Nuttin, Vincent Bloch, President of the French Society of Psychology, and Robert Mallet, Chancellor of the University of Paris, in addressing the opening session of the 21st International Congress of Psychology, recalling the historic occasion of the 1st congress held in Paris in 1889 and pointing out the great progress made in psychology as a science in less than 100 years. A comparison of the scientific content and issues presented at international congresses prior to World War II with those of the 21st congress illustrates both the significant progress of scientific psychology in the past century and the changing nature of psychology. The maturity of basic psychological science together with the rapid emergence of professional and applied issues and topics of concern to developing countries throughout the world are clearly evident in the proceedings of the Paris congress of 1976 (French Society of Psychology, 1978).
