The increasing use of technology in society poses potential benefits and challenges, and this is a topic of great relevance to European psychology. EFPA has given attention to this topic for quite some time, and in 2024 a Digitalisation Expert Reference Group was established to help coordinate the organisation's response (1).
EFPA is committed to supporting the digital dimensions of the Federation's purpose which is to: develop psychology, contribute to society, and serve psychologists (2). This includes responding to calls for comment, in addition to proactive policy and advocacy work to ensure that the voice of European psychology is well heard in the development and deployment of technology.
While the intersection of psychology and technology has always been relevant, the need for psychology's role in helping to inform policy, as well as research and practice, has become increasingly apparent—in topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), experiential technology (i.e. virtual reality, mixed reality, the metaverse) and communications and social media technologies.
While naturally including an interest in health technology, EFPA's focus on digitalisation extends broadly throughout all forms of societal impact that arise from our interaction with technology. EFPA's digitalisation focus involves collaboration between the organisation, it's working groups (3), member associations (4) and with other stakeholders to develop an integrated approach that helps bring Psychology's expertise to societal engagement with technology.
1 - https://www.efpa.eu/efpa-launches-new-digitalisation-expert-reference-group
2 - https://www.efpa.eu/about-us/missions-values
3 - https://www.efpa.eu/working-groups-and-ad-hoc-working-groups
The increasing use of technology in society both offers benefits and poses challenges, and is a topic where European psychology can provide relevant input on the human and societal impacts that arise from our interaction with technology.
EFPA is committed to advocating for people centred digital development, in accordance with our Purpose which is to: develop psychology, contribute to society, and serve psychologists. This includes both responding to calls for comment, and proactive policy and advocacy work to ensure that European psychology contributes psychological expertise to the development and deployment of technology.
The need for psychology to help inform policy, research and practice, in topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), immersive technology (i.e. virtual reality, mixed reality, the metaverse) and communications and social media technologies has become increasingly urgent due to the pace of change and reach of technology into many aspects of peoples’ lives.
EFPA identifies six priorities as principles to underpin societal engagement with advancing technology:
1-Co-Production of Regulation |
Psychologists and those with lived experience should actively shape and evaluate legislative and regulatory frameworks for technologies with societal impact or health implications. |
2-People-Centred Development |
Psychological science should be embedded from the outset in digital tool development ensuring technologies are designed and implemented in ways that are compatible with wellbeing. |
3-Transparent & Controllable |
Technology design should promote transparency, understanding, and personal control. Mechanisms for the protection of people and their data are a priority, particularly when training algorithms/AI. |
4-Digital Literacy & Accessibility |
Inequalities in access to digital resources should be reduced. Digital literacy for the public and for psychologists should be promoted, with curricula and standards including relevant digital skills. |
5-Navigable Digital Determinants |
Virtual/hybrid environments should be curated in ways that are contextually suitable. Technical and educational solutions should be utilised to address misinformation and combat online fraud. |
6-Enhance, Not Replace |
Technology should be responsibly deployed based on suitability, supplementing existing forms of support and developmentally assisting rather than replacing personal capacities. |
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