THE UNITY OF THE DISCIPLINE - A CHALLENGE FOR THE PROFESSION

The paper examines the issue of disunity within the discipline of psychology, within the profession of psychology, and between the two. References are made to tensions that have existed in or between academic/scientific and applied/professional psychology throughout the history of psychology in Canada and the United States. The emphasis, however, is on more recent events and discussions of the issue; and consideration is given to their implications for the profession of psychology in the immediate future. The paper attempts to identify factors within the discipline, the profession, and in society that could operate to strengthen the links between professional and academic psychology, and that, given sufficient interest and determination on the part of organized psychology, could offset the forces which have threatened the sense of community among psychologists.