Our Mission
Psychologists for Social Responsibility is a vibrant, diverse, and growing community of members and supporters. Spanning a range of disciplinary perspectives and professional backgrounds, we share a commitment to the application of psychological knowledge in addressing today's pressing societal challenges and in building cultures of peace with social justice.
PsySR is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, funded primarily through dues and contributions.
Through Action Committees and Initiatives we work to:
- Apply the growing body of knowledge about conflict resolution and violence prevention
- Facilitate positive changes for victims and survivors of personal, community, and civil violence
- Advocate for basic human needs--including actions that decrease poverty, ensure ethnic and gender equality, increase work opportunity, promote healthy and sustainable environments, and achieve a wiser balance between human needs and military budgets
- Ensure that relevant information from psychology is used in local, national, and international public policy
PsySR is an independent organization with no official ties to the American Psychological Association. We have, however, appreciated our collaborations on many projects over the years with Division 48 (Peace Psychology) and other APA divisions.
The PsySR Central Office in Washington, DC supports the work of the Steering Committee and the Action Committees. PsySR has an executive director, an administrator, and several interns who organize the logistical support for PsySR's projects. The executive director Colleen Cordes can be reached by phone at 202-543-5347 or by email at ccordes@psysr.org. For general inquiries, please email info@psysr.org.
Our History
The creation of Psychologists for Social Responsibility in 1982 followed a venerable tradition of psychologists’ organizing to promote social change--in support of work-programs during the Depression of the 1930’s; against fascism in Germany before and during World War II; in support of equal civil rights regardless of race or gender during the 1960’s; and against the Vietnam War during the 1970’s.
Formed during the height of the Cold War in the 1980’s, PsySR’s first focus was promoting the use of psychological skills and knowledge to push for nuclear disarmament and to reduce the threat of nuclear war. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union, we expanded our mission to include broader issues of peacebuilding and social justice. Today we have proudly entered our second 25 years with a continuing commitment to building cultures of peace with justice—here in the United States and throughout the world. A more detailed history of PsySR is available HERE.
PsySR Action Committees
Psychologists for Social Responsibility accomplishes much of its work through its Action Committees. These groups are linked on a regular basis by email listservs and they meet in person at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association and other professional events. They publish resource materials, plan conferences, develop PsySR statements on issues, and offer networking and information-sharing opportunities to their members.
PsySR Initiatives
PsySR Initiatives work like Action Committees but have a looser format. They may represent the work of only one or a few people, they are often actions and research in a developing stage, and they have fewer expectations for the number of completed projects each year. Initiatives have a twice-yearly opportunity to be named Action Committees by having met the expectations for broader involvement of PsySR members and multiple projects actively underway.
PsySR's Leadership
PsySR benefits from the broad participation of its members and from the dedicated efforts of its leadership, which includes its Officers, Steering Committee, and Advisory Board. A listing of members currently holding these positions is available HERE.
Joining PsySR
To become a member of PsySR, simply print, complete, and mail us our Membership Form along with your check or credit card information (to pay directly online, please see the information provided below).
You can also pay your membership dues--or make a donation--by clicking on the donate button below. With this option, please submit your membership form separately and note on it that you have paid through our secure online system. You will receive an automated response “Thanks for your donation,” but we record it as a membership dues payment.
If you have questions about joining or other membership questions, please contact us at membership@psysr.org or call us at 202-543-5347.