British Psychology in Crisis

Contributors Graham Buchanan, Ashley Conway, Pat Harvey, and David Pilgrim describe the current organisational crisis in the British Psychological Society. They offer a critical account of the Society’s recent history, which the BPS might wish to hide from public view, and investigate how the organisation has reached such a parlous

Riven by poor governance and outright corruption, the British Psychological Society (BPS) may now be in terminal decline. Individual members have left it in despair and some groups (for example clinical, educational and organisational psychologists) have already organised themselves outside of the Society, in protest against its mismanagement and distorted priorities. Onlookers are bemused by a simple fact: a psychological organisation has demonstrated total incompetence at understanding itself. Accordingly, today, the BPS is neither a learned nor a learning organisation. This book describes this organisational crisis. It offers a critical account of the Society’s recent history, which has mostly been hidden from public view, due to a lack of suitable democratic structures to ensure proper public scrutiny. Though it has charitable status, its governance has lacked independent trustees. Instead, priorities in the organisation have been compromised repeatedly by conflicts of interest, with an oligarchy of recycled names losing sight of the Society’s shortcomings. In more recent times, these problems have been amplified by a managerial culture with little respect for academic integrity. These weak governance arrangements have led to policy capture by some interest groups which have led to public safety being threatened by the production of poor psychological advice to those on the outside. Those ordinary members opposing this skewed and risky advice have been suppressed by those at the top of the organisation. This important book aims to provide a platform for ordinary members whose criticisms have thus far been suppressed. By promoting the voices of these objectors and exposing the cracks within the organisation, it attempts to bring truth to power.

About the editor and contributors Editor's Preface Chapter 1 The history of the BPS crisis David Pilgrim Chapter 2 The lure of the toxic leader Graham Buchanan Chapter 3 Resisting the silence of the cabal: resorting to social and alternative media Pat Harvey Chapter 4 Policy capture (1) at the BPS: the gender controversy Pat Harvey Chapter 5 Policy capture (2) at the BPS: the memory and law controversy Ashley Conway Chapter 6 An organisation without a memory? David Pilgrim Chapter 7 BPS bullshit David Pilgrim Chapter 8 What is the point of the BPS? David Pilgrim Chapter 9 Some afterthoughts Graham Buchanan, Ashley Conway and David Pilgrim Index,

About the editor and contributors
Editor’s Preface

Chapter 1
The history of the BPS crisis
David Pilgrim

Chapter 2
The lure of the toxic leader
Graham Buchanan

Chapter 3
Resisting the silence of the cabal: resorting to social and alternative media
Pat Harvey

Chapter 4
Policy capture (1) at the BPS: the gender controversy
Pat Harvey

Chapter 5
Policy capture (2) at the BPS: the memory and law controversy
Ashley Conway

Chapter 6
An organisation without a memory?
David Pilgrim

Chapter 7
BPS bullshit
David Pilgrim

Chapter 8
What is the point of the BPS?
David Pilgrim

Chapter 9
Some afterthoughts
Graham Buchanan, Ashley Conway and David Pilgrim

Index

• Edited by David Pilgrim

'A forensic analysis of the scandals and continuing failings of the organisation which represents itself as the ambassador and champion of British psychology. Essential reading for all British psychologists.'

— Professor Mike Wang, Chair, Association of Clinical Psychologists UK

'It's truly remarkable to read an organizational case study involving a psychological society. Especially one of the most prestigious national psychological societies, with a long history and international standing, like the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Unfortunately, this isn't one of the many success stories described in the literature on organizational, leadership, and management psychology, but rather a highly problematic case that has led the British Psychological Society (BPS) to a near-catastrophic state.

These chapters reveal both peer pressure and the influence of political currents and censorship, so much so that several sections of the volume call for a true, truthful, and authentic narrative of these years of the BPS—a narrative that until now has been distorted and partial.'

— Andrea Castiello d’Antonio, Qi – Questions and Ideas in Psychology, Issue 113, November 2024

'An excellent and engaging read highlighting what happens to organisations  where governance & lack of scrutiny are pervasive. Essential reading for all psychologists and related professionals.'

— Carolyn Brown, retired educational psychologist