Narrative Summary of The American Psychological Association: A Historical Summary, 1892-1930

Overview:

This text is a detailed account of the development of the American Psychological Association from its founding in 1892 to 1930. It explores the organization’s growth, its financial journey, its constitution, its scientific programs, and its attempts to influence professional psychology. The author, Samuel W. Fernberger, presents a chronological narrative highlighting key events and decisions that shaped the APA’s identity and its impact on psychology in America.

Main Parts:

Founding: This section details the initial meeting of the “rugged pioneers” who established the APA, the context of American psychology in 1892, and the election of the first members.
Membership: The evolution of membership is discussed, tracing its growth, the criteria for election, and the introduction of the Associate grade.
Finances: The author examines the financial history of the APA, analyzing income and expenditures, changes in dues, and the creation and eventual elimination of the Permanent Fund.
Constitution: This section explores the development of the APA’s constitution and by-laws, focusing on key amendments regarding membership qualifications, election procedures, and the incorporation of the organization.
Sections, Branches, and Relations with Other Organizations: The article details the formation of sections within the APA, the Association’s relationship with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Research Council, and the genesis of the American Philosophical Association.
The Association and Clinical Psychology: This section delves into the APA’s involvement in the field of clinical psychology, particularly through the development of committees focused on standardization of mental tests, the certification of consulting psychologists, and the relationship of psychology to public welfare.
The Scientific Programs: The author analyzes the number and types of papers presented at APA meetings, examining the evolution of program-making practices and the institutions and fields represented.
Joint Meetings: A comprehensive list of joint meetings with other organizations is provided, highlighting the collaborative nature of the APA’s activities.
Attendance at Meetings: The article charts the increasing attendance at APA meetings, indicating the organization’s growing influence and reach.
Presidential Addresses: A list of all presidential addresses, along with their publication in the Psychological Review, is provided.
Dinners and Summer Meetings: The author discusses the Association’s annual dinners, their evolution, and its limited interest in summer meetings.
Congresses: The article explores the APA’s role in hosting the International Congress of Psychology, specifically focusing on the various attempts to bring the Congress to America.
Relation of the Association to Publication: The author outlines the APA’s acquisition of its journals, its involvement in the development of the Psychological Abstracts, and its attempts to influence the publication of applied psychology.
Miscellaneous: This section includes information on awards and grants, a brief history of psychological bibliography and library check lists, the establishment and evolution of several key committees, the development of the Year-Book, and discussions on academic tenure.
The Officers of the Association: A complete list of officers, including Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, and members of the Council of Directors, is presented, along with an analysis of their backgrounds and careers.

View on Life:

Scientific Progress: The author clearly values the scientific advancement of psychology and believes that the APA is crucial for driving this progress.
Collaboration and Professional Self-Consciousness: Fernberger emphasizes the importance of bringing psychologists together to foster a sense of shared identity and purpose.
Professional Responsibility: While the author recognizes the need for psychologists to be professionally responsible, he also cautions against overly rigid control mechanisms and advocates for a more collaborative approach to issues of ethics and public perception.

Scenarios and Situations:

Founding of the APA: The author depicts the initial meeting of founding members, a group of psychologists and philosophers, and the early challenges of establishing the organization.
Growth and Expansion: The text describes the APA’s increasing membership, the formation of sections, and the expansion of its influence within the field.
Financial Challenges and Solutions: The article details the APA’s struggles to maintain financial stability, particularly in the face of increasing expenditures and the purchase of journals.
Constitutional Changes: The author highlights the evolving constitution and by-laws of the APA, reflecting the organization’s adaptation to its changing needs and membership.
Attempts to Control Professional Psychology: The text showcases the APA’s ongoing efforts to define and control professional psychology, particularly in the realm of clinical psychology and the certification of consulting psychologists.
Publication and its Role in the APA: The article examines the APA’s journey into publishing, its acquisition of journals, its creation of the Psychological Abstracts, and its efforts to influence the publication of applied psychology.

Challenges:

Maintaining Financial Stability: The APA faced a series of financial challenges, particularly in the early years, as it navigated increasing expenses and the transition to a “big business.”
Balancing Scientific and Professional Concerns: The APA grappled with the tension between its scientific focus and the need to address professional issues and ensure ethical standards within the field.
Defining and Controlling Professional Psychology: The organization faced significant challenges in its attempts to define and control professional psychology, particularly in the areas of clinical practice and certification.

Conflict:

The Struggle for Control: The APA’s history is marked by a recurring tension between the desire to control and standardize professional psychology and the inherent difficulties of achieving this through direct action. This conflict is evident in the organization’s attempts to establish a standardized set of mental tests, to certify consulting psychologists, and to define and enforce ethical standards within the field.
The Tension Between Scientific and Professional Goals: The APA also faced conflict in reconciling its scientific mission with its increasingly professional responsibilities, particularly as psychology expanded into applied fields.

Plot:

The article presents a narrative arc of the American Psychological Association, progressing from its humble beginnings as a small gathering of psychologists and philosophers to a large and influential organization with a significant presence in the field. Key milestones in the plot include:

1892: The founding of the APA with a small group of pioneering members.
1894: The adoption of the first constitution and the election of the first officers.
1906: The formalization of criteria for membership, marking a shift towards greater selectivity and homogeneity.
1925: The incorporation of the APA, signifying its transition to a more formal and established organization.
1926: The creation of the Associate grade of membership, opening the organization to a broader group of psychologists.
1927: The establishment of the Psychological Abstracts, demonstrating the APA’s commitment to advancing the field through publication and dissemination of knowledge.

Point of View:

The text is written from the perspective of an academic psychologist, Samuel W. Fernberger, who provides an insider’s view of the APA’s development. His perspective emphasizes the scientific advancement of psychology, the importance of collaboration and professional self-consciousness, and the challenges of balancing scientific and professional concerns.

How It’s Written:

The article is written in a formal, objective, and somewhat dry tone. Fernberger uses detailed descriptions, lists, tables, and charts to present his analysis of the APA’s history. He employs a combination of chronological narrative and thematic development to present a comprehensive and insightful overview of the organization’s evolution.

Example of Writing Style:

“The author believes that its projected initiation [of Psychological Abstracts] had a considerable influence on the formation of the Associate grade of membership although this was primarily motivated by the desire to take into the Association those psychologists of junior grade without lowering the standards for Membership.”

Tone:

The tone of the text is objective, analytical, and scholarly. The author avoids emotional language and instead focuses on presenting a factual and comprehensive account of the APA’s history.

Life Choices:

APA Members’ Choice to Join: Membership in the APA reflects a conscious choice by individuals to be part of a community dedicated to advancing psychology.
APA’s Choice to Embrace Publishing: The APA’s decision to acquire journals and to establish the Psychological Abstracts demonstrates a commitment to supporting and disseminating psychological research.
Choice to Focus on Scientific Advancement: The APA’s emphasis on scientific progress, evident in its programs and publications, is a deliberate choice to prioritize the advancement of knowledge within the field.

Lessons:

Importance of Collaboration: The APA’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration within a scientific community.
Value of Professional Organization: Professional organizations play a crucial role in defining a field, promoting ethical standards, and fostering a sense of shared purpose among its members.
Challenges of Balancing Science and Practice: The APA’s struggle to navigate the tension between scientific research and professional practice offers valuable lessons about the complexities of applying psychological knowledge in real-world settings.

Characters:

Samuel W. Fernberger: The author of the text, a prominent psychologist who served as Secretary of the APA. His deep understanding of the Association’s history is evident throughout the article.
G. Stanley Hall: A founding member of the APA and its first president, Hall played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s early years. He was a pioneer in the field of psychology and a strong advocate for its advancement.
James McKeen Cattell: Another founding member of the APA, Cattell was a prominent psychologist who served as Secretary-Treasurer during the Association’s early years. He was a strong advocate for the advancement of experimental psychology and played a crucial role in establishing the APA’s reputation as a scientific organization.
William James: A founding member and president of the APA, James was a renowned philosopher and psychologist whose work significantly influenced the field.

Themes:

Evolution and Growth: The text explores the evolution of the APA from its humble beginnings to its prominent status within the field of psychology. It highlights the organization’s adaptation to changing needs and its growing influence.
Science and Practice: The APA’s history reflects a continuous struggle to balance its scientific mission with the challenges of applying psychological knowledge in real-world settings.
Collaboration and Community: The text underscores the importance of collaboration and a shared sense of purpose within the field of psychology, as evidenced by the APA’s efforts to bring psychologists together to advance the field.
Professional Responsibility: The APA’s efforts to define and enforce ethical standards within the field of psychology, particularly through its attempts to certify consulting psychologists, illustrate the importance of professional responsibility in a growing field.

Principles:

Scientific Advancement: The APA was founded on the principle of advancing psychology as a science, a principle that has guided the organization’s actions and decisions throughout its history.
Collaboration and Shared Purpose: The APA’s success rests on the principle of collaboration and a shared commitment to advancing the field among its members.
Professional Ethics and Standards: The APA recognizes the importance of upholding ethical standards and ensuring the professional competence of its members, even as these goals proved difficult to achieve through direct action.

Intentions:

Characters: The characters in the text, particularly the founding members and early officers, were motivated by a desire to establish a strong and influential organization dedicated to advancing psychology as a science.
Reader: The author intends to provide a comprehensive and insightful account of the APA’s history, offering valuable lessons about the development of a professional field, the challenges of balancing science and practice, and the importance of collaboration and ethical standards within a scientific community.

Unique Vocabulary:

“Rugged Pioneers” (used to describe the founding members of the APA): This term evokes a sense of adventure and pioneering spirit, highlighting the challenges faced by the early members in establishing the organization.
“Big Business” (used to describe the APA in its later years): This phrase signifies the organization’s growth and expansion, highlighting its increasing influence and resources.
“Schizoid” (used to describe scientific men): This term reflects the author’s view that scientists, while dedicated to their work, may not always be adept at collaborative action.

Anecdotes:

The Story of the APA’s Founding: The text recounts the initial meeting of the founding members, their discussions about the feasibility of forming an association, and the election of the first members. This anecdote provides insight into the early challenges and the spirit of collaboration that characterized the APA’s origins.
The APA’s Attempt to Certify Consulting Psychologists: The article describes the APA’s efforts to establish a system of certification for consulting psychologists, highlighting the difficulties encountered in defining standards, enforcing regulations, and convincing members to participate. This anecdote reveals the challenges of professionalizing a field and the limits of an organization’s power to control its members.

Ideas:

The Importance of a Professional Organization for Science: The text argues that professional organizations play a crucial role in supporting and advancing scientific fields by bringing together researchers, promoting ethical standards, and fostering a sense of shared purpose.
The Challenges of Balancing Science and Practice: The author explores the complexities of applying psychological knowledge in real-world settings, arguing that professional organizations like the APA must navigate the tension between scientific research and professional practice.
The Limits of Direct Control: The article demonstrates that while professional organizations can influence their members and the field at large, they have limited power to directly control the actions or behavior of individuals.

Facts and Findings:

Growth of Membership: The article presents statistics on the growth of the APA’s membership, illustrating the organization’s increasing reach and influence within the field.
Financial Development: The text provides detailed data on the APA’s finances, including income, expenses, and the growth of its surplus.
Scientific Programs: The author analyzes the number and types of papers presented at APA meetings, providing data on the fields and institutions represented.

Statistics:

Membership Growth: From a modest 31 members in 1892, the APA grew to 530 members in 1930.
Associate Membership: Since the introduction of the Associate grade in 1926, the APA’s membership has grown rapidly.
Scientific Programs: The APA’s scientific programs have seen a steady increase in the number of papers presented, with a high of 73 papers in 1915.
Institution Contributions: 19 universities have contributed 726, or almost 53%, of the papers presented at APA meetings between 1892 and 1928.

Points of View:

The text is written from the perspective of an academic psychologist, Samuel W. Fernberger, who provides an insider’s view of the APA’s development. His perspective highlights the scientific advancement of psychology, the importance of collaboration and professional self-consciousness, and the challenges of balancing scientific and professional concerns. This perspective contributes to a nuanced understanding of the APA’s history and its evolving role in the field.

Perspective:

The article offers a historical perspective on the American Psychological Association, examining its evolution from a small gathering of pioneering psychologists to a prominent organization with a significant presence in the field. It highlights the challenges and achievements of the APA, demonstrating its impact on the development of psychology in America and its ongoing role in shaping the field’s future.

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