Society of Experimental Social Psychology: Membership Information

Society of Experimental Social Psychology

Membership Information

Membership in SESP is open to any self-identified social psychologist, regardless of disciplinary affiliation. The nominator can be either oneself or a current member. Once submitted, nominations are reviewed by the SESP Membership Committee. Under SESP bylaws, membership cannot grow by more than 5% per year. The 2010 Membership Committee consists of Tanya Chartrand (Chair), Paula Pietromonaco, and Linda Skitka. Nominators may nominate no more than one person for membership in a given year.

Nominations should be submitted between May 1 and June 30 of this year. Nominators should email the following materials to Professor Tanya Chartrand (Tanya.Chartrand@duke.edu): (a) a nomination letter that addresses the criteria for membership and identifies two publications that represent the candidate's high quality of work, (b) the candidate's vita. If possible, nominators should compile this information into a single file (e.g., in Word) that can be attached to an email. Please note that it is not necessary to submit copies of articles.

The primary criteria for membership are:

Nominees must show "evidence of substantial contribution to social psychology as an empirical science; significant publication in recognized journals or books" (quoted from the bylaws). In practice, "evidence of substantial contribution to social psychology" represents an expectation of at least five papers published on social psychological topics in top journals, with at least three with the candidate as first author. These are not hard and fast rules, however, but a guideline to help nominators decide whether a candidate is "ready" to be nominated. The Membership Committee may also consider publications in other journals, chapters, monographs, and books as evidence of contribution to social psychology.
Nominees must identify themselves as social psychologists.
Nominees must be at least five years post-Ph.D.

Once individuals are admitted as members, the annual membership fee is $60, which includes a subscription to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Payments can be made online by clicking on the Member Services button to the left. The fee for each calendar year is due by August 1st of the prior year.

Additional questions about SESP or the membership process should be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer at:

or to other officers of the SESP Executive Committee. The Executive Committee oversees the operation of SESP and consists of nine members who are elected for staggered terms of three years.