About APA

Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.

The mission of the APA is to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives.

The American Psychological Association aspires to excel as a valuable, effective and influential organization advancing psychology as a science, serving as:

• A uniting force for the discipline

• The major catalyst for the stimulation, growth and dissemination of psychological science and practice

• The primary resource for all psychologists

• The premier innovator in the education, development, and training of psychological scientists, practitioners and educators

• The leading advocate for psychological knowledge and practice informing policy makers and the public to improve public policy and daily living

• A principal leader and global partner promoting psychological knowledge and methods to facilitate the resolution of personal, societal and global challenges in diverse, multicultural and international contexts

• An effective champion of the application of psychology to promote human rights, health, well being and dignity

The American Psychological Association commits to its vision through a mission based upon the following values:

• Continual Pursuit of Excellence
• Knowledge and Application Based on Methods of Science
• Outstanding Service to Its Members and to Society
• Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Ethical Action in All That We Do

APA seeks to advance psychology as a science, a profession, and as a means of promoting health, education, and human welfare. 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

Adapted from APA Bylaws I.1

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

As psychological research yields new information, whether it’s improved interventions to treat depression or how humans interact with machines, these findings become part of the discipline’s 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 healthcare providers to provide whole-person healthcare for patients.