The History of SIOP
Laura L. Koppes, SIOP Historian, Eastern Kentucky University, December 2000
The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc. (SIOP) can trace its roots to the founding of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1892. APAs initial objective was the advancement of Psychology as a science (Cattell, 1895, cited in Sokal, 1992, p. 115). During these early years, APA was reluctant to recognize applied areas of psychology, consequently, APA members with applied interests sought other professional organizations to pursue their interests.
In 1930, the New York Association of Consulting Psychologists expanded and formed the Association of Consulting Psychologists (ACP). Industrial psychologists were involved in the formation of ACP and they participated every year in the ACP meetings. In 1937, under New York University Douglas Fryers leadership, members of several applied groups including ACP, an APA clinical section, and other local and state groups, formed the American Association of Applied Psychology (AAAP) as a national association to represent the interests of applied psychologists.
The AAAP rapidly grew as the dominant organization in the U.S. for individuals with applied psychological interests. Section D, Industrial and Business, was one of four sections created within the organization. Membership to the section was limited to AAAP fellows or associates who at the time of application for membership, are actively engaged in the application of psychology in business, industry, public service or allied fields (Constitution of Section D, 1939, as cited by Benjamin, 1997b, p. 462).
Upon request of the National Research Council, AAAP, APA, and SPSSI (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues) were asked to collaborate for the benefit of the national welfare. In 1945, these groups agreed to merge and reorganize as the national psychological association in the U.S. (Capshew & Hilgard, 1992). The original five AAAP sections continued as sections of the new APA. AAAP Section D, Industrial and Business, became APA Division 14, Industrial and Business Psychology (one of 19 original divisions of APA). All members had to be actively engaged in the application or study of psychology in business, industry, public service or allied vocational fields and whose activities are in conformity with the standards adopted by the Division (Burtt, 1947, as cited in Benjamin, 1997a, p. 108). Business was dropped from the divisions name in 1962, and Organizational was added to the name in 1973. APA Division 14 became the Division of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
In 1982, Division 14 incorporated as the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.-A Division of the American Psychological Association to achieve some independence from APA (Hakel, 1979). The overall purpose of the society has not changed significantly from the purpose established by the AAAP Section D, Industrial and Business, in 1937. The society has changed with regard to structure, membership, and activities, primarily due to the expansion of the discipline and the growth of membership (Benjamin, 1997a). For example, the organization has evolved from one that was totally managed by volunteers to one that now uses a professional staff (Koppes, 2000a).
A more extensive coverage of the history of SIOP can be found in Benjamin (1997a; 1997b) and Koppes (2000a; 2000b). Katzell and Austin (1992) traced a history of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
References
Benjamin, L.T., Jr. (1997a). A History of Division 14 (The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology). In D.A. Dewsbury (Ed.), Unification Through Division: Histories of the Divisions of the American Psychological Association, Volume II. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Benjamin, L.T., Jr. (1997b). Organized industrial psychology before Division 14: The ACP and the AAAP (1930-1945). Journal of Applied Psychology, 82(4), 459466.
Capshew, J.H., & Hilgard, E.R. (1992). The power of service: World War II and professional reform in the American Psychological Association. In R.W. Evans, V.S. Sexton, , & T.C. Cadwallader, (Eds.) (1992). The American Psychological Association: A Historical Perspective. (pp. 149175). Washington, D.C.: The American Psychological Association.
Hakel, M. D. (1979). Proposal to incorporate as the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 16(4), 45.
Katzell, R.A., & Austin, J.T. (1992). From then to now: The development of industrial-organizational psychology in the United States. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77, 803835.
Koppes, L. L. (2000a). A history of the SIOP administrative office. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 38(2), 4854.
Koppes, L. L. (2000b). A brief history of SIOP [On-line]. Available: www.siop.org.
Sokal, M.M. (1992). Origins and early years of the American Psychological Association, 18901906. American Psychologist, 47, 111122.
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