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About APA

The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing

psychology in the United States. APA is the world's largest association of psychologists, with more than 134,000

researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.

Our mission is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit

society and improve people's lives.

Become an APA member

Our Work

APA seeks to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society

and improve people's lives. We do this by:

Encouraging the development and application of psychology in the broadest manner

Promoting research in psychology, the improvement of research methods and conditions and the application of

research findings

Improving the qualifications and usefulness of psychologists by establishing high standards of ethics, conduct,

education and achievement

Increasing and disseminating psychological knowledge through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers,

discussions and publications

Strategic Plan

Our strategic plan goals are to maximize the association's organizational effectiveness, expand psychology's role

in advancing health and increase recognition of psychology as a science.

Strategic plan

Governance and Senior Staff

Volunteer governance members play a key role in the direction and completion of APA's advocacy, publishing,

member service and more. These groups include APA's:

Council of Representatives, which has the sole authority to approve policy and appropriate the association'srevenue.

Board of Directors, elected by the membership, and which acts as the administrative agent of the Council of

Representatives.

APA president, elected annually by the membership to serve as the face of the association.

Committees, boards and task forces, which focus on particular issues in the field.APA's daily operations are overseen by itssenior staffat APA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Definition of "Psychology"Psychology is a diverse discipline, grounded in science, but with nearly boundless applications in everyday

life. Some psychologists do basic research, developing theories and testing them through carefully honed

research methods involving observation, experimentation and analysis. Other psychologists apply the disciplines

scientific knowledge to help people, organizations and communities function better.

As psychological research yields new information, whether its developing improved interventions to treat

depression or studying how humans interact with machines, these findings become part of the disciplines body

of knowledge and are applied in work with patients and clients, in schools, in corporate settings, within the judicial

system, even in professional sports.

Psychology is a doctoral-level profession. Psychologists study both normal and abnormal functioning and treat

patients with mental and emotional problems. They also study and encourage behaviors that build wellness and

emotional resilience. Today, as the link between mind and body is well-recognized, more and more psychologists

are teaming with other health-care providers to provide whole-person health care for patient

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