American Psychological Association
APA is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States with 133,000+ members. It holds exclusive federal accreditation authority for clinical, counseling, and school psychology doctoral programs, while also publishing 70+ peer-reviewed journals.
APA demonstrates the 'dual identity conflict' pattern: scientific membership organization AND accreditation gatekeeper, with the interrogation ethics scandal exposing how these roles can conflict catastrophically.
APA is NOT the DSM publisher—that's American PSYCHIATRIC Association (different organization). The 2005-2015 interrogation scandal (Hoffman Report) revealed APA officials secretly collaborated with DoD/CIA to write intentionally ambiguous ethics guidelines enabling psychologist participation in torture. Estimated 10,000+ member resignations. Research-focused psychologists created separate Association for Psychological Science (1988) because APA's clinical dominance made it unsuitable for science advancement. PCSAS (2007) offers first real competitor to APA accreditation monopoly.
Key Facts
Power Dynamics
Only Department of Education-recognized accreditor for psychology doctoral programs; publishes dominant journals; issues ethics guidelines
Weaker than AMA. Accreditation important but alternatives emerging (PCSAS). Journal publishing revenue under threat from open access. State licensing boards coordinate through semi-independent ASPPB, not directly through APA
- Department of Education could recognize alternative accreditors
- State boards coordinate through ASPPB (semi-independent)
- Open access journals threatening publishing monopoly
- ASPPB (state licensing coordination; originated from APA but now semi-independent)
- Department of Education (grants accreditation authority)
- Association for Psychological Science (competitor organization)
- PCSAS (competitor accreditor)
Revenue Structure
American Psychological Association Revenue Sources
- Membership dues 35% ↓
- Journal publishing 30%
- Accreditation fees 15% →
- Conferences and products 20% →
Declining from historical highs; 133K members
70+ journals; open access eroding model
Smaller than ABA due to fewer programs
Journal publishing revenue existentially threatened by open access movement. No equivalent to AMA's CPT codes. Accreditation revenue smaller than ABA because fewer programs nationally. PCSAS competitor accreditor emerging
Weaker than AMA (no mandatory infrastructure) and weaker than ABA (smaller accreditation market, competitor emerging). More like 'declining gatekeeper with publishing monopoly under threat'
Decision Dynamics at American Psychological Association
COVID telehealth training: adapted standards in months when national emergency forced it
Interrogation ethics reversal: 10 years from PENS Task Force (2005) to explicit torture prohibition (2015)
32+ member Commission on Accreditation requires consensus; multiple divisions with conflicting interests; Department of Education compliance adds delays
Failure Modes of American Psychological Association
- Interrogation scandal (2005-2015): Hoffman Report exposed collaboration with DoD/CIA on torture; 10K+ resignations
- APS split (1988): Research psychologists left to form separate organization
- Publishing model under attack from open access
- Dual identity (science + practice) creates conflicts
- No infrastructure lock-in like AMA
- PCSAS offers first real accreditation alternative
- Journal revenue eroding to open access
If Department of Education authorized PCSAS as equivalent accreditor, APA loses gatekeeping power immediately. If open access captures psychology publishing, $35-45M revenue disappears. Combined scenario = organizational crisis
Biological Parallel
APA tried to function as both scientific body (immune system monitoring research quality) and professional gatekeeper (controlling entry). The interrogation scandal showed ethical immune system failure: when pressured by powerful external actor (DoD/CIA), APA's ethics committee became corrupted for decade. Unlike AMA's CPT lock-in or ABA's Model Rules coordination, APA's infrastructure is more easily replaced—PCSAS and open access journals are viable alternatives emerging.
Key Agencies
Only federally-recognized psychology program accreditor; 32+ members
70+ journals; major revenue source under threat from open access
Enforces ethics code; failed catastrophically during interrogation scandal