Covering such recent developments as the founding of the American Psychology Society and the impact of connectionism, the author provides a narrative history of psychology that includes the social, political and philosophical contexts which have shaped psychology and which psychology has shaped in turn. A full chapter on the philosophy of science and historiography as they relate to psychology completes the picture.

Detailed timelines appear on the end papers to further readers' understanding of the historical contexts of developments in psychology. Chapter ending bibliographies direct students to further reading as well as providing critical discussion of historiographic materials.