ABSTRACT
In some ways, writing a chapter about “Applied Psychology” is like writing only half a sentence or interrupting a speaker before the main point is made. Applied psychology needs a predicate, or at least an answer to the question–what aspect of psychology is being applied to what real-world problem? Applied psychology is not a content area or academic discipline like developmental psychology or social psychology. There are no chapters in introductory psychology textbooks devoted to applied psychology nor are there any great theorists or “pioneers” identified (exclusively) as applied psychologists, although there are many applied psychologists doing outstanding work. The term is more accurately used as a label for a decision about the type of problem that a researcher is willing to solve. Applied psychologists are interested in finding answers for only a subset of those questions that rightfully fall under the broad psychology rubric.
