The Federation is a dues-supported coalition of Member Organizations, Academic Affiliates (including university departments and regional psychological associations), and Corporate Affiliates. We represent the interests of scientists who conduct research in mind, brain, and behavior sciences, focusing our efforts on advocacy, education, and the communication of information to scientists.

Mission Statement

The Federation promotes human potential and well-being by advancing the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior. As a coalition of scientific societies, we communicate with policy makers and the public about the importance and contributions of basic and applied research in these sciences.

By-Laws
Download a copy of our by-laws approved at our December 2008 Annual Meeting.

History

The Federation came into existence in Chicago on December 7, 1980, when representatives of 8 societies established the Federation. The following societies were Charter members of the Federation:

• American Educational Research Association
• American Psychological Association
• National Conference on the Use of On-Line Computers in Psychology
• Cognitive Science Society
• Psychonomic Society
• Society of Experimental Social Psychology
• Society for Mathematical Psychology
• Society for Psychophysiological Research

Several other societies, represented at the meeting in Chicago, expected to become charter members in 1981, following their annual meetings.

The Federation issued the following initial statement of its goals and principles:

1. To educate the public, and private and public agencies on the need for basic research on behavior and cognition.
2. To encourage legislation and policy that enhances training and research in basic behavioral, psychological, psychobiological and cognitive processes.
3. To foster effective interactions between public and private funding agencies and the community of scientists and scientific societies.
4. To represent the view of its membership in the implementation of administrative policies, including issues of accountability, the protection of human and animal subjects, and peer review.
5. To provide sources of expertise and knowledge in the basic behavioral, psychological, and cognitive sciences.
6. To provide a national platform for issues of common concern.
7. To facilitate exchanges among constituent societies, including announcements of meetings, names of officers, lists of available services, and other items of organizational information that may be mutually helpful.
8. To establish channels of communication with other scientific groups, with representatives of the communication media, with educational groups, and with the general public.

The Federation was incorporated in 1981 and established an office in Washington, D.C., headed by an Executive Director, during 1982. Membership in the Federation was available only to bona fide scientific societies, there would be no individual memberships.