Work and Organizational Psychology in Latin America

Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) should consider the amalgam of values, organizational and legal arrangements, economic blocs, languages and peoples of Latin America (LA). In addition, WOP needs to seek the development and validation of universal frames of reference that make generalization possible in LA, and in other regions. How far away from that is WOP in LA? How does it resemble those psychologies that originated in the USA and Europe in terms of historical, social, political and economic reasons? The keynote presentation focuses on a set of data that was collected in 14 LA countries. It is organized in sections that synthesize history, practice, teaching, production and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The challenges for research, teaching and practice will be presented and the factors that are associated to the flourishment of WOP in LA will be examined.