Universitas Negeri Semarang successfully hosted a public lecture on the theme “The Personality of Indonesian People” on November 29, 2024, via the Zoom Meeting platform. The event was attended by over 250 students, with Yohannes Babtista Cahya Widiyanto, M.Si., Ph.D., a lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Sanata Dharma, serving as the keynote speaker.
The public lecture aimed to introduce and deepen the understanding of Javanese psychology concepts about personality theory while enhancing appreciation for local cultural values in shaping personality. The event also emphasized the importance of harmony, social identity, and spirituality by integrating local cultural perspectives into psychological studies.
As the keynote speaker, Yohannes Babtista Cahya Widiyanto employed a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate the relevance of social institutions and cultural psychology in personality development. The event was designed for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in exploring critical dialogues between Western and Eastern psychological concepts and the influence of local culture in teaching, research, and psychological practice.
This public lecture successfully enhanced students’ understanding of personality within the Javanese cultural context, encouraged the integration of local and Western psychology, and fostered reflections on cultural identity. It also generated ideas for incorporating Javanese psychology into school curricula, promoting new research, and strengthening respect for the diversity of psychological studies.
In his closing remarks, Yohannes Babtista Cahya Widiyanto underscored the importance of self- awareness in psychological journeys, stating, “It’s not about moving on, but moving in. Moving in does not mean eliminating others; it means recognizing that we are part of the cosmic whole, a universe within ourselves.”
The organizing committee expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, especially to Dr. Siti Nuzulia, S.Psi., M.Si., Ph.D., Mr. Chamilul Hikam Al Karim, S.Psi., M.Psi., and Ms. Nuke Martiarini, S.Psi., M.A., lecturers from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Negeri Semarang, for their guidance and support in preparing for the event. Appreciation was also extended to all participants for their active engagement and to the organizing team for their hard work in ensuring the smooth execution of the event via the Zoom Meeting platform.
Author: Faiz Fatihul ‘Alwan
