1. IAAP - its Nature and Ways of Working

The International Association of Applied Psychology is the oldest international association of psychologists. Its official languages are English and French. Founded in 1920, it now has more than 2.000 members from more than 70 countries. Its aims are succinctly stated in Article 1 of its Constitution:

"...to establish contact between those who, in different countries, devote themselves to scientific work in the various fields of applied psychology, and to advance the study and achievement of means likely to contribute to the scientific and social development in these fields."

The Association distinguishes five membership categories:

(1) Full Members
(2) Student Members
(3) Honorary Members
(4) Associate Members (non-psychologists working in fields of applied psychology)
(5) Affiliate International Organization Members (international psychological societies/associations in a sub-field of applied psychology).

Officers of IAAP (President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary General, Treasurer) are elected by the Executive Committee which meets biennial (for current Officers and members of the Executive Committee consult enclosed leaflet).
Members of the Executive Committee are elected on the basis of their scientific achievements, commitment to IAAP, and their dispersion over the world's regions. Hence, they also serve as main contact persons for members in their region.
The General Meeting of the Association takes place every four years in connection with each International Congress of Applied Psychology.

Most of the Association's work is achieved through its Divisions, Standing Committees, and Task Forces. The Divisions pursue the scientific concerns of IAAP members working in various sub-fields of applied psychology. In 1994 IAAP had recognized thirteen Divisions (for their respective current Presidents see loose leaflet):

(1) Division of Organizational Psychology
(2) Division of Psychological Assessment and Evaluation
(3) Division of Psychology and National Development
(4) Division of Environmental Psychology
(5) Division of Educational, Instructional and School Psychology
(6) Division of Clinical and Community Psychology
(7) Division of Applied Gerontology
(8) Division of Health Psychology
(9) Division of Economic Psychology
(10) Division of Psychology and Law
(11) Division of Political Psychology
(12) Division of Sport Psychology
(13) Division of Traffic and Transportation Psychology

This is the location of three discussion lists:

PSYLAW-L located at PSYLAW-L@UTEPA.BITNET devoted to discussions on Psychology and Law co-sponsored by Division 41 of APA (also known as the American Psychology and Law Society) and the Psychology and Law Division of the IAAP.
IAAP Traffic (Division) located at M5207@eurokom.ie devoted to issues of interest for members of the Traffic Psychology Division.
IAAP-L located at IAAP-L@UCMAIL.UCM.ES devoted to issues of common interest for members of the IAAP.

Standing Committees are concerned with aspects and recurrent problems which affect the Association as a whole:

- Publications Committee

- Training Committee

- Membership Committee

- International Relations Committee

- Dues Committee

- Finance Committee

Task Forces deal with urgent but time-limited strategic issues in need of action by the Executive Committee or the Officers of IAAP such as:

- Task Force on the History of IAAP which will encourage studies of the history of IAAP

- Task Force on Constitutional Issues such as the question whether IAAP should have a Students' Division

- Task Force on IAAP Awards

- Task Force on IAAP Representation in Less Developed Countries (IAAP has not enough members per country from less developed parts of the world)

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Alfredo Fernández
psdift2@emducms1.sis.ucm.es -- Universidad Complutense

Last modified: March 23, 1997