APA

Overview of the American Psychological Association

American Psychological Association
Formation	July 1892
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Membership	121,000
Language	N/A
Leader title	President
Leader name	Frank C. Worrell
Website	www.apa.org

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. The APA is dedicated to advancing the creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.

History

The APA was founded in July 1892 by G. Stanley Hall at Clark University. The organization initially had 31 members and has since grown to include over 121,000 members, including researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students.

Structure

The APA is divided into 54 divisions, each representing a specific area of psychology, such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology. The APA's governance includes a Board of Directors and a Council of Representatives.

Publications

The APA publishes a wide range of scholarly journals, books, and other resources. Some of its most notable publications include:

• American Psychologist
• Journal of Applied Psychology
• Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
• Psychological Bulletin
• Psychological Review

APA Style

The APA is also known for its publication manual, commonly referred to as APA Style. This style guide is widely used for writing and formatting research papers in the social sciences. The most recent edition is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th edition).

Advocacy

The APA engages in advocacy efforts to promote the field of psychology and influence public policy. The organization works on issues such as mental health, education, and science funding.

Membership

Membership in the APA is open to individuals with a doctoral degree in psychology or a related field. The organization also offers affiliate memberships for students and international psychologists.

Related Pages

• Psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Counseling psychology
• School psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• G. Stanley Hall
• Clark University
• American Psychologist
• Journal of Applied Psychology
• Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
• Psychological Bulletin
• Psychological Review
• APA Style

See Also

• List of psychology organizations
• History of psychology
• Psychological research