Exploring our Name
Our name today: Society for Personality Assessment
Being explored: Society for Personality and Psychological Assessment
Last spring, many of you told us how much the word “Personality” means to this community. We listened. The Board is now asking for your reaction to one possible name that keeps “Personality” first and adds “Psychological.” No decision has been made, and keeping our current name is a welcome answer.
Share your view by November 30
The member feedback form is open November 12 to November 30, 2026. It takes a few minutes and is anonymous.
Watch the November 9 town hall
Missed the virtual town hall? Watch the full recording below or open it on Vimeo.
How we got here
This conversation has been underway for more than a year, and each step has been shaped by what members said.
- September 2025: Work on defining personality assessment led the Board to ask whether our name still reflects what members do.
- March 2026: At the Toronto convention, a town hall opened the question to members. The Board committed to gathering written feedback before anything changed. Watch the March recording.
- April–July 2026: 64 members shared written feedback. Most preferred to keep the current name.
- Fall 2026: Hearing that members did not want to lose “Personality,” the Board began exploring a name that keeps it and adds to it.
- November 9, 2026: Virtual town hall on the name now being explored. Watch the recording.
- November 12–30, 2026: Open feedback form for every member, including those who could not attend.
- December 2026: The Board reviews all feedback and decides whether to bring a name change to a member vote.
Why this name
The name being explored tries to honor what members told us last spring.
- “Personality” stays first. It remains our defining expertise and the first word in our name.
- It matches what our bylaws already say. Our bylaws state that the Society is dedicated to “the advancement of the science and practice of personality assessment, and psychological assessment generally, for the betterment of society by promoting research, education, training, and public advocacy.”
We have changed our name before
The Society has renamed itself as the field has changed, each time keeping its roots: Rorschach Institute (1938), then Society for Projective Techniques (1950), then Society for Personality Assessment (1971). Read more in the Journal of Personality Assessment's history of the Society.
Questions and answers
Has the Board already decided?
No. The Board is gathering feedback on this name. At its December meeting, it will decide whether to bring a name change to a member vote. If it does not, we will share what we heard and the next steps.
Most members said to keep the name. Why is this still being considered?
Most objections were to dropping “Personality.” Additionally, we only received 62 responses from the over 3,000 individuals who were emailed. The Board wanted to know whether a name that keeps it first answers that concern, or whether members would still rather keep our current name. That is the question we are asking now.
Why not “Society for Psychological Assessment”?
Members were clear that personality assessment is our defining expertise. This name keeps it first and adds the broader scope alongside it, rather than replacing it.
Would this change what the Society does?
No. Our purpose and membership already include psychological assessment broadly, as members approved in the 2021 bylaws. Only the name would change.
What would happen to the acronym, the Journal, and SPAGS?
The Journal of Personality Assessment and SPAGS would decide their own names. If you have a view on any of these, please include it in the feedback form.
What would it cost?
The only hard cost tied to the name itself is legal advice and the state filing, estimated at up to about $1,000.
Separately, the Board is considering a refresh of our branding and website, estimated at $2,495 to $3,495, whether or not the name changes. If the name did change, it would be folded into that refresh rather than paid for twice.
These costs do not include the staff time allocated to support this transition. Hours our staff spend on a name change are hours not spent on other member services and projects, and the Board is weighing that tradeoff as well. Print pieces and convention signage would be updated as they come due.
Will a new name bring in new members?
We cannot promise that, and we will not claim it. The case for this name is clarity about the work our members already do, not a forecast of growth.
Can I suggest a different name, or say I’d rather keep ours?
Yes, to both. The feedback form has space for either.
If it goes to a vote, how would that work?
Changing the name requires a bylaws amendment. Members would receive formal notice and vote by ballot over 30 days. Professional, Early Career, and Graduate Student members in good standing would be eligible. The change would pass only with two-thirds of ballots cast in favor and at least 75 ballots returned.
Who can I contact with questions?
SPA Staff at info@personality.org. They will then share the questions with the respective SPA leaders.
Updated November 12, 2026