International Histories of Psychological Assessment

This book brings together expert research on the history of psychological assessment across the continents and spanning over 50 countries.

Sumaya Laher (Edited by)

9781108719100, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 August 2022

300 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.58 kg

'This book provides a unique treatment of psychological assessment. It not only traces the history of assessment, but it provides a cross-cultural and cross-national perspective with each chapter addressing the topic from a different region of the world. This volume presents a global view of how assessment developed and is used.' Paul Spector, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Organizational Psychology, University of South Florida, USA

To look forward, it is necessary to look back and learn. History is more than just facts about the past; it is a narrative told from a particular perspective. A proverb from Africa, 'Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter,' captures this best. Most of the scholarship about psychological assessment comes from very specific nationalities and cultures, which does not truly reflect the diversity and breadth of histories pertaining to the field. Covering 50 countries, this collection gives voice to those that have previously been under represented and sometimes marginalized. This book not only describes important moments in psychological assessment from around the globe, but also equips readers with the tools to map the future of psychological assessment across nations. It advocates for a more globally inclusive science of assessment that holds promise for enhancing creativity and innovation in the field.

1. Histories of psychological assessment: an introduction Sumaya Laher, Yiqun Gan, Kurt Geisinger, Dragos Iliescu, Peter Macqueen and Pia A Zeinoun
2. The history of psychological assessment in Southern Africa Sumaya Laher, Robert Serpell, Kay Ntinda and Regis Chireshe
3. Psychological testing and inclusive schooling: issues and prospects in Central Africa Therese M. S. Tchombe, Asangha N. Muki, Melem L Fangwi, Lambert S. Wirdze and Ndzetar E. Wirmum
4. Psychological assessment in West Africa Seth Oppong, Kwaku Asante Oppong and Adote Anum
5. The history of psychological assessment in the Levant Karma Al Hassan and Pia A Zeinoun
6. The history of assessment in the Nordic countries Sverre Nielsen and Dave Bartram
7. Key episodes in the history of testing in Central Western Europe Jonas W. B. Lang and Jan Corstjens
8. The beginnings of psychological assessment in Spain and Portugal Jamie Perena Brand
9. Histories of psychological assessments: the United Kingdom Dave Bartram
10. The early history of psychological testing in Eastern Europe and Russia Dragos Iliescu, Andre Ion and Krunoslav Matesic
11. Hearing the untold: a review of Central Asia's contribution to the expansion of psychological assessment Mostafa Zarean and Fatemeh S Tarighat
12. History of psychological assessment in Southern Asia Suresh Sundaram, Suresh Arumugam and Asoke K. Saha
13. History of psychological assessment in East Asia Fei Huang and Mingjie Zhou
14. Psychological assessment and testing in Malaysia and Singapore Ivan M. H. Lee and Nor S. Zulkefly
15. History of testing in Oceania John O'Gorman, Ross St George and Peter Macqueen
16. Psychological assessment in South America: perspectives from Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Peru Solange M. Wechsler, Marion K. Schulmeyer, Eugenia V. Vinet and Jose Livia
17. Historical development of psychological assessment in the Caribbean Janelle Robinson and Michael C. Lambert
18. The history of psychological assessment in North America Janet F. Carlson and Kurt Geisinger
19. Looking back, moving forward: assessment futures in the global village S. Laher.

Subject Areas: Organizational theory & behaviour [KJU], The self, ego, identity, personality [JMS], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Psychology [JM], Social & cultural history [HBTB]