This month’s questions focus on increasing APA membership and the association’s role in the public discourse of political, legal and social issues:
Q3: How do you envision increasing and enhancing the vitality of the association’s membership?
APA must attract and sustain members while students and as professionals. Students (both undergraduate and graduate), early career psychologists, as well as mid-career and senior psychologists, are all essential to creating a vibrant and welcoming professional association. Increasing the value of membership at all levels will require an appreciation of the challenges and organizational benefits that span careers. A range of mentoring relationships can become productive collaborations in science, education, practice and policy. These can enhance connections across stages and ages, energizing the exchange of ideas that highlight the importance of psychology on a daily basis.
Q4: What role should APA undertake in the public discourse of political, legal and social issues?
APA needs to be visible and active in developing public policy because "psychology every day in every way" matters. It means training our members to participate in the formulation of policy so that they can be in the room, at the table, and at the head of the table when policies are discussed and decisions are made about political, legal and social issues. Psychological science can inform decision-making. In the absence of specific data, identifying the critical questions can also inform the discussions. Psychologists are trained to consider the impact of thoughts, affect and behavior, i.e., the outcomes of policies.