APA Policy Statements on Violence Prevention

Bullying Among Children and Youth (PDF, 36KB)opens in new window
Integration of bullying prevention into APA's violence prevention activities and, where appropriate, into other activities of its directorates, divisions, and state and provincial psychological associations.

Corporal Punishment
Opposition to the use of corporal punishment in schools, juvenile facilities, child care nurseries, and all other institutions, public or private, where children are cared for or educated.

Firearm Safety and Youth
In July 2013 the board of directors appointed the APA Policy Review Task Force on Gun Violence Prediction and Prevention to review this policy adopted by the council of representatives in 1994. The task force will propose a policy to reflect current knowledge on gun violence prediction and prevention.

Gun Violence Prevention
Gun violence affects society in many ways, including higher medical costs, reductions in quality of life and stresses on the criminal justice system. The question before psychology is what can science tell us about the most effective methods to reduce gun violence.

Resolution on Psychological Issues Related to Child Abuse and Neglect
APA Council of Representatives directs the executive vice president and chief executive officer to undertake an immediate initiative to apply the science and profession of psychology to the development and implementation of a national strategy for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

Violence Against Children by Governments
As a matter of policy, APA will consider, upon documentation of such abuses of children's rights, resolutions protesting such abuses and expressing solidarity with our colleagues who protest such abuses within their own country.