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British Psychological Society

Logo: bps.org.uk4

Learned society in the United Kingdom, devoted to psychology

The British Psychological Society (BPS) is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom.2 It was founded by William McDougall, William Halse Rivers Rivers and Sophie Bryant.1 It is headquartered in Leicester, United Kingdom.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1901Founded1
  • HeadquartersLeicester, United Kingdom1
  • Founded inUniversity College London1
  • Websitewww.bps.org.uk
  • Legal formCHARITY3
  • LEI213800HL7N1XBV1BHS973
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)3
  • Registered addressTHE BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ST ANDREWS HOUSE, LE1 7DR Leicester, United Kingdom3
  • Registered withCharity Commission for England and Wales, 2296423

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The British Psychological Society (BPS) is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom.2

The story

Founded by Sophie Bryant, William Halse Rivers Rivers and William McDougall in 1901, in University College London.1

It was founded on 24 October 1901 at University College London (UCL) as The Psychological Society, the organisation initially admitted only recognised teachers in the field of psychology. The ten founder members were:

Its current name of The British Psychological Society was taken in 1906 to avoid confusion with another group named The Psychological Society. Under the guidance of Charles Myers, membership was opened up to members of the medical profession in 1919. In 1941 the society was incorporated. In 1965 it was a granted a Royal charter.

From Wikipedia’s article on British Psychological Society, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led British Psychological Society, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

The British Psychological Society currently has ten divisions and nineteen sections. Divisions and sections differ in that the former are open to practitioners in a certain field of psychology, so professional and qualified psychologists only will be entitled to full membership of a division, whereas the latter are interest groups comprising members of the BPS who are interested in a particular academic aspect of psychology.

Divisions

The divisions include:

Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology

Division of Clinical Psychology

Read the full text

Division of Coaching Psychology

Division of Counselling Psychology

Division of Educational and Child Psychology

Division of Forensic Psychology

Division of Health Psychology

Division of Neuropsychology

Division of Occupational Psychology

Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology

Scottish Division of Educational Psychology

The Division of Clinical Psychology is the largest division within the BPS – it is subdivided into thirteen faculties:

Addiction Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Children, Young People and their Families Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Clinical Health Psychology Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Eating Disorders Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Forensic Clinical Psychology Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

HIV and Sexual Health Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Holistic Psychology Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Leadership and Management Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Intellectual Disabilities Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Oncology and Palliative Care Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Perinatal Psychology Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Psychosis and Complex Mental Health Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Psychology of Older People Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Sections

The Sections Archived 4 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine currently include:

Note: The term 'division' in the American Psychological Association does not have the same meaning as it does in the British Psychological Society, coming closer to what the British Psychological Society refers to as 'sections'. Branches are for members in the same geographical region.

Special groups

BPS currently has the following special groups to provide a forum for members working in particular specialist fields, with a particular focus on training, practice, and professional development

Regional Branches

The Society also organises regional branches throughout the United Kingdom. These include the following branches:

East Midlands Branch

East of England Branch

London and Home Counties Branch

North East of England Branch

North West of England Branch

Northern Ireland Branch

Scottish Branch

South West of England Branch

Welsh Branch

Wessex Branch

West Midlands Branch

From Wikipedia’s article on British Psychological Society, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Timeline

  1. 1901Founded Founded in University College London1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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