Personality Assessment is highly valued by the members of the Society for Personality Assessment, but it is not a value that necessarily extends to or is understood by the general public, nor do we make it easy to access clear information that would increase its value. Additionally, we do not seek to disseminate evaluations of the treatment and clinical utility of personality assessment to the general public for feedback and reciprocal dialogue. A quick internet search (Reddit etc.) shows that individuals are seeking sources where they can find clear information about psychology and assessment and many seek reading materials (PubMed, PsychInfo), podcasts (e.g., HealthGamerGG), and “internet mental health experts” on social media. Increasing numbers of people desire trusted sources for information as public media increases in misinformation and disinformation. More professionals practicing and engaging in research are responding to this call by becoming these trusted experts, leveraging dialogue with consumers to increase literacy and support social change. The Society for Personality Assessment needs to respond to this public call, and develop their social engagement and outreach strategies – not just for the public good, but also for the survival of this important modality. Institutional and structural challenges affecting personality assessment include not only our institutions and training programmes, but also the people who we serve. The Social Engagement and Outreach Committee (SEOC) is designed to meet this need.
Committee’s Purpose & Sample of Scope of Initiatives
The purpose of the SEOC will be to strategically engage with the general public and allied professionals to assist them in learning more about personality assessment, while also countering and engaging in critical dialogue about the representation of personality assessment in pop culture sources. Every SEOC action will be tied to treatment and clinical utility, increasing consumers’ literacy about personality assessment and the ways it can address important needs. The SEOC will also survey consumers to maintain the SEOC’s relevance and ability to adapt to the changing needs of the general public and allied professionals. The SEOC activities could include, but would not be limited to:
- Using social media to educate the general public and allied professionals about personality assessment (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube)
- Developing a podcast with episodes focusing on intriguing topics related to personality assessment
- Developing a resource tab(s) for the general public to access on our website tailored to their needs (basic descriptions; where to find an assessor; what kinds of questions to ask etc.)
- Sending personality assessor ambassadors to allied professional conferences
- Creating a list of presenters willing to give presentations in courses for allied professionals
- Developing a substack/blog
The SEOC would not be redundant with the Committee on Academic Partnerships (CAP), which is designed to address the needs of graduate students and professional psychology programmes. The SEOC and CAP chairs will engage in regular dialogue to ensure that aims and objectives are not redundant, but support one another and we are being clear and consistent in our outreach language. In short, the SEOC’s vision overlaps with CAP, but the purpose of each committee is discrete.
Alignment with SPA’s Strategic Framework
The SEOC will advance SPA’s strategic goals, ensuring that SPA is continuing to promote the value of personality assessment and its impact on society. Though we did not necessarily conceive of the general public in our latest strategic plan, the SEOC is directly tied to Strategic Framework Outcomes:
- Outcome 2: “define the utility & impact of personality assessment and communicate its value.”
- Outcome 3: “SPA is the indispensable resource for personality assessment.”
Committee Objectives
- Build engaged citizens in the practice and consumption of personality assessment
- Increase personality assessment literacy in the general public and among allied professionals
- Empower and integrate people from different backgrounds.
- Increase trust in SPA and the likelihood of access as a trusted resource
Authority of the Committee
The SEOC is authorized to make recommendations to the SPA Board of Directors. It may implement initiatives approved by the Board but is not empowered to act on behalf of the Board or the Society without authorization.
Committee Composition
Members will be recruited through SPA’s established volunteer engagement processes. The committee will include 10 - 15 members, selected to represent a diverse mix of roles and institutions, including:
- A Representative-At-Large who will serve as committee chair
- SPA members with experience in social engagement and outreach
- SPA members with social media literacy/experience
- SPA members with editing experience for social media
- International member representation
- At least one student or early-career member
- A liaison from Committee on Academic Partnerships (CAP), when feasible
- A liaison from the Diversity and Social Justice Committee (DEISJ), when feasible
Ideal members will
- Understand the challenges with creating content that is accessible to the general public
- Understand the pain points of the general public
- Be willing to support outreach content development whether creating behind the scenes or being public-facing
- Align with SPA’s mission and values, particularly in regard to education and equity
Time Commitment and Meetings
Committee members will serve for renewable one-year terms (February - February). The expected time commitment is approximately 1–3 hours per month, depending on ongoing initiatives and Board priorities. Meetings will be held virtually, with additional asynchronous collaboration as needed.
Ethical Commitment
By serving on SEOC, members agree to act in accordance with SPA’s ethical guidelines, including:
- Upholding the values of integrity, inclusion, and professionalism in all interactions
- Respecting confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest in activities
- Representing SPA’s mission faithfully when engaging with the general public and allied professionals
Application Deadline: February 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm (EDT)!
Questions? Please email Nathan Victoria at nvictoria@personality.org.