The Social Problem of HIV as a Driver for the Development of Psychological Science and Practice

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of Eugene V. Farber’s2 speech at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association in 2017. The social and psychological aspects of the HIV epidemic problem, contributing to the development of psychological science and practice, are discussed. The role of HIV-infection in the development of psychological science and practice. Among these problems are stigmatization, doctor-patient relationship, mental disorders, and behavioral changes arising in HIV-infected individuals. Humanization and contextualization of clinical counseling, transformation of medical services taking into account cultural diversity and the implementation of a patient-centered approach in the clinical environment are mentioned to be the key trends in working with HIV-infected individuals