ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to review developments in the field as a whole, with particular reference to the West European and American scene. Although the majority of psychologists work in an applied field, historical accounts of the development of psychological practice are rare. The chapter focuses on key persons, institutions, and events exerting a major influence on the development of the domain, and show how specific features of the environment and of the parent discipline led to the establishment of various areas of application. Industrial expansion and the return of ex-service personnel to civilian employment extended the opportunities for psychologists. Reference has been made already to some of the key individuals who were instrumental in applying psychology in the spheres of education, industry, the law courts, and so on. Management training and development became important areas of concern, as did the nature of organizations, to the study of which other social scientists as well as psychologists were to make important contributions.
