Rubén Ardila, a prominent figure in international psychology, a professor at the National University of Colombia, his home country, has been a master in several fields of psychological knowledge, and especially in the history of psychology. He was the second president of Division 18 of the IAAP, the division dedicated to the History of Applied Psychology.In the field of historical research, he has produced important works on the development of psychology in Latin America, and has also contributed with historical studies of modern scientific psychology. In his early work, he sought to introduce an attractive image of Latin American psychology to the North American cultural sphere, thus promoting mutual understanding. His studies on psychology in Colombia and its evolution to the present day are particularly important. He also recently edited a comprehensive overview, "Psychology in Latin America: Current State, Challenges and Perspectives" (2018), with contributions from numerous specialists. In addition, his work includes studies on the evolution of international psychology, such as "Contemporary Psychology: An International Perspective" (1972), "One Hundred Years of Psychology" (1979), "The Pioneers of Psychology" (1971), and even a very interesting collection of his correspondence with internationally renowned figures in contemporary psychology.


He has also noted the different paces at which this science has developed in the various countries of Latin America, as well as the significant influences of a number of European researchers who moved to the Americas during major historical events, such as the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Among his historical works, his autobiography () is particularly noteworthy, as it serves as an important firsthand account of the development of scientific psychology in the 20th century, a process in which he was an participant and direct witness. This makes it a significant historical document for the study of psychology.