MAKING PSYCHOLOGY INDISPENSABLE

Following description of peculiar historical conditions that gave rise to the rapid growth of professional psychology in the United States a nd expression of concern about the future of the field, questions abou t the central purposes and basic identity of professional psychology a re considered. Two conceptions are delineated. The currently dominant conception of practice as applied science is disputed, and the concept ion of professional service as disciplined inquiry is advanced as an a lternative. The latter conception, but not the former, encourages syst ematic address of urgent social needs and organized cooperation among practitioners and researchers in developing effective practices to mee t those needs.