American Psychological Association (APA)

The American Psychological Association (APA) focuses on the science, application, and dissemination of psychology as the world's largest membership organization of psychologists. Formed with an initial emphasis towards psychology as a field of basic scientific research, APA has developed over the past century and across two World Wars to serve a wider range of interests befitting its diverse membership and 56 separate special interest divisions. These organizational interests include involvement in science, public policy, clinical practice, education, and training. Its membership spans all levels of training and experience in psychology, from undergraduates to professors, mental health advocates to research scientists. Keywords: APA style; United States; Yerkes, Robert; accreditation; ethics; history of psychology; policy; profession of psychology; psychology organization; training