International Histories of Psychological Assessment

Description

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.

Sumaya Laher is Professor of Psychology and the Head of Department of Psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She serves as founding Editor of the African Journal of Psychological Assessment, and Associate Editor of the South African Journal of Psychology and editorial board member for the International Journal of Testing.

'This momentous book on the history of psychological assessment is the first endeavor to discuss this history across many countries from no fewer than six continents. Contrary to the traditional view of testing as a European-North American undertaking, the authors bring a genuine cross-cultural perspective to the domain of testing.' Marise Born, Professor of Personnel Psychology, Erasmus University, and Endowed Professor of Work and Personnel Psychology, VU University, the Netherlands 'Mainstreaming culture is essential in cross-cultural psychological assessment. This book provides, for the first time, a rich overview of the assessment histories by international experts from all continents. Understanding the international histories of psychological assessment helps us to contextualize the cultural perspective before adopting global approaches to local contexts.' Fanny M. Cheung, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China 'This thoughtful, inclusive, and comprehensive resource is an invaluable contribution to psychological science. Besides providing better context and understanding of psychology's ubiquitous application (assessment), it also uncovers little-acknowledged facts of psychology's origins and roles in various cultures beyond nineteenth-century Europe, challenging us to disrupt imposed barriers and unleash psychology's global good.' Saths Cooper, President of the Pan-African Psychology Union (PAPU) and Extraordinary Professor University of Pretoria, South Africa 'This is the first book to present a global perspective on the evolution of psychological assessment. The authors, who are all leaders in psychological assessment, explain how psychological assessment practices are grounded in national, regional, and international histories. It is an invaluable guide to understanding local psychological assessment practices in a globalized community.' Elias Mpofu, Professor of Rehabilitation and Health Services, University of North Texas, USA, and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa 'This book is a strong reminder that assessment amounts to much more than psychometrics. A worldwide set of regional reviews shows us how assessment is contextual: historically, politically, and ideologically. This highly relevant perspective makes the volume a valuable contribution.' Ype H. Poortinga, Emeritus Professor of Cross-Cultural Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium '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