History of the society

We keep a comprehensive online history of the BPS from its formation in 1901 to the present day. To explore our history in greater detail, we recommend reading a number of our online articles, which can be accessed below.

• A short history of the British Psychological Society - Dr Geoff Bunn

• A History of Psychology in the UK - Claire Jackson

• Timeline of the BPS 1901 to 2009

You may also wish to consult:

• The British Psychological Society (1901-1941) - Beatrice Edgell

• Sixty years of psychology - L.S. Hearnshaw

• A brief history of the Society logo - Hannah Steinberg

• Seventy-five years of The British Journal of Psychology 1904-1979 - Alan D.B. Clarke

• Founding factors - Geoff Bunn

• The Evolution of the Society - David Clark-Carter

If you’re a researcher, then we recommend browsing our archives.

You can also view a chronology of psychology in Britain.