Professional Organizations

Professional organizations (i.e., associations or societies) in psychology are formed for a variety of reasons and purposes by professionals with shared interests. In general, organizations are developed to advance the profession, to protect the interests of its members, and, where relevant, to benefit society. Organizations may be constituted based on a specific shared professional identity such as that of a clinical psychologist (e.g., Society of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association [APA]), an ethnic interest or identity (e.g., the National Latina/o Psychological Association), a particular disciplinary interest such as behavioral and cognitive therapies (e.g., Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies), or a specific psychopathology (e.g., the American Psychopathological Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies). In addition, in many countries and regions ...