Membership in the Society is open to anyone with an interest in the discipline of Descriptive Psychology regardless of their academic degree or previous training. Because the Society was founded as an interdisciplinary group by computer scientists, educators, applied linguists, organization consultants, psychologists, and theologians, the membership has always been diverse. The Society has also included members from psychiatry, counseling, social work, nursing, physical therapy, mathematics and the physical sciences, and business consultants with significant experience in marketing, management, strategic planning and organizational effectiveness. Thus the fundamental criterion for membership has always been a serious interest in the understanding and use of Descriptive Psychology in the real world, including the academic world.
Membership runs annually from January 1 to December 31, and the benefits include (a) a discounted rate for registration at the annual meeting, (b) a publication of the Society selected by the Executive Committee, and (c) the Bulletin of the Society, published annually. New members are typically given Peter G. Ossorioâs seminal 2006 work, The Behavior of Persons, Vol. 5 in the Collected Works of Peter G. Ossorio, as their initial publication benefit, but they may request a different benefit if they choose.
Membership categories include:
- Regular member, with annual dues of $85.00, which applies to any non-student person wishing to be a member.
- Family memberships, with dues of $135, are provided for married couples or a parent and an adult child living in the same household who wish to join but do not wish to receive two membership benefits and two Bulletins.
- Student membership, with annual dues of $25, is available to any full-time student, either in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Student members receive all benefits of regular members. When applying for student membership, please submit a Xerox copy of oneâs current enrollment document.
Questions may be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer, J. R. Hap Cox, Ph. D. at Roanoke College Counseling Center, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153 or at cox@roanoke.edu.