The World Association of Social Psychiatry (WASP) was founded in 1964 by Joshua Bierer of the U.K. et al. 

Initially, it was named "International Congress of Social Psychiatry." From the 6th Congress, it was named "World Congress of Social Psychiatry."

The purpose of the WASP is as follows, and as is defined in the constitution:

- To study the nature of man and his cultures and the prevention and treatment of his vicissitudes and behavioral disorders.

-To promote national and international collaboration among professionals and societies in fields related to Social Psychiatry.

- To make the knowledge and practice of Social Psychiatry available to other sciences and to the public, and

- To advance the physical, social and philosophic well-being of mankind.