From Séance to Science

Book excerpt: This is a book about the professionalization of psychology, specifically the birth and development of modern psychological practice in the United States from the 19th century to the present ... This book tells the story of psychologists who sought and seek to apply the knowledge of their science to the practical problems of the world, whether those problems lie in businesses, schools, families, or in the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of individuals. Their stories are told in the context of their times, emphasizing the social, political, and disciplinary factors that have shaped the profession.-Pref.