Constructivist Chronicle

More on Name Change

By Stephanie Harter, NAPCN Treasurer
Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Spring 2003)

The NAPCN steering committee has been considering a potential name change for NAPCN, including feedback and nomination of names from NAPCN members.

Issues that have been discussed include a broader name to include our members from other constructivist traditions beyond Personal Construct Psychology and discontinuing the geographical designation of "North American" since we have members throughout the world.

Members have expressed mixed views on each of these issues. There are networks in Europe, Asia, and Australia with whom we have collegial relationships. Also, many of our members remain connected to personal construct psychology, either through current emphasis in their work or through mentoring connections. Members have expressed desires to attract constructivists outside personal construct psychology, but also to retain our connection to George Kelly and personal construct psychology. We welcome members from around the world, but do not want to compete with other networks.

Names that remain in consideration after initial screening from the steering committee are:

- Constructivist Psychology Network (CPN)
- Constructivist Psychological Society (CPS)
- North American Constructivist Society (NACS)
- North American Psychological Constructivist Network (NAPCN)
- Pan-American Constructivist Society (PACS)
- North American Constructivist Association (NACA)

Members will also have a chance to vote to retain the current name, North American Personal Construct Network. Members who have paid their dues for 2003 will receive ballots to vote on the name change around May 15th. Please contact steph.harter@ttu.edu if you did not pay your dues for 2003 and would like to do so, or if you believe that you did pay your dues, but do not receive a ballot. The Steering Committee hopes that as many members as possible will provide input into our future identity.