THE INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES TRADITION IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY

Counseling psychology developed in the 1950s out of applied psychology, which at that time was the application of the psychology of individual differences. The present article traces this historical development, from individual differences psychology through psychological testing, vocational counseling, and student personnel work, to counseling psychology. The individual differences tradition in counseling psychology research and practice is described, and the ways in which individual differences psychology has influenced counseling psychology and how, in turn, counseling psychology has contributed to the psychology of individual differences are discussed. The article concludes with speculations on the future relationship between the two fields.