Founded in 1974, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, or the SPSP, has more than 7,000 members today. It was once a part of the APA, but incorporated as a separate, independent organization. Members of the SPSP are from around the world, and most of them are psychologists or students. However, there are those professionals who are interested in the field but who do not directly work in the field that are members, as well. The psychologists study in many different fields from sociology to forensic psychology.

Becoming a Member of the SPSP

Becoming a Member of the SPSP can be a great option for many types of psychologists, including social psychologists, personality psychologists, and students in those areas. Forensic psychologists, because they deal so heavily with personality and behavior as well as social issues, should find that the SPSP is a great organization to belong to. When you become a member of the SPSP, you receive a number of different benefits including annual conference events, activities, support for education and research, and publications.

You will receive subscriptions to Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Personality and Social Psychology Review. You will also have electronic subscriptions to Dialogue and Social Psychology and Personality Science. These publications have great information that pertains to many different areas of psychology which is eminently useful for a working forensic psychologist.

For psychologists with doctorates, the membership dues are $50. Those who are undergraduates, students, or who are retired have membership dues of just $25 per year. Contacting the SPSP is the best way to get started with your membership and to learn more about what it will entail and offer you.

The SPSP also offers a number of awards that help to recognize those who have contributed in the field. Each year at the convention, the SPSP gives out awards such as the Donald T. Campbell Award for distinguished scholarly achievement and ongoing sustained excellence in research in social psychology. At the convention, they also present the Jack Block Award, the Methodological Innovation Award, the Henry A. Murray Award, and more. In addition to the annual awards, they also offer service awards, media awards, student awards, and more.

Should a Forensic Psychologist Become a Member?

Membership in the SPSP is affordable, and it offers a number of benefits in addition to the publications that the members receive. Being able to go to the conventions, and having the ability to network and connect with other professionals working in the same and similar fields, is always beneficial to a forensic psychologist.

Because forensic psychology relates to closely to social psychology, and to personality and behavioral psychology, it makes sense that a forensic psychologist should consider becoming a part of the Society. Take the time to look through the website and information for the SPSP and see everything that it has to offer. You will find a wealth of information on the site that will give you more insight into what the group does and how joining could be something that’s mutually beneficial.

Please visit http://www.spsp.org/ for more information about The Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP).