Style is a big deal in the editing business. A publication's style-book lists non-negotiable policies on how words are used in its pages. Authors comply, or we edit their compliance for them. Usually, style issues are simple matters of consistency or clarity. Should BOPS appear with or without periods after each letter? Someone has to decide, then stick to their guns.
I am now announcing a style change for TAP that carries much deeper significance. Henceforth, TAP will no longer use “the American” in these pages to refer to our organization. This change has the support of the Executive Committee, our creative and vital public relations team, and the editorial board.
Unwittingly, and most likely without malicious intent, over the years we fell into the habit of calling ourselves “the American.” When one is writing a TAP article about work within the organization, and has to come up with a name for us twice in every sentence, it is a mellifluous choice. But it carries with it tones of elitism, blindness, and insensitivity. We don't want to portray that kind of image, and we are no longer so insensitive to our appearance in the world outside our own borders. “APsaA” is now the preferred shorthand name for our organization. “The association” is fine; “us” is okay when appropriate. I used “our organization” in the previous sentence — that's fine too. We hope the change in TAP style will have a small but positive effect on all of our consciousness. There are many Americans, many organizations, many APAs, many associations, each with its own vision and priorities.
In a memo to the Committee on Public Information, chair Kerry Sulkowicz wrote,
We are learning that the subtleties of language used to describe ourselves and our work can harm us as much as it can help us. “The American” rolls off the tongue quite easily, but may be one of the ways we create the impression of arrogance among other mental health professionals and thereby marginalize ourselves.
And this is what Dick Fox told TAP: “This is much more than political correctness we are talking about. Using other phrases — American Psychoanalytic, the association, or APsaA — shows much greater respect for our colleagues and their associations. It may be a difficult habit to break, but it is worth the effort.”
TAP Readers — This issue was ready for press at the time of the terrorist acts on September 11. We could not edit any articles to reflect these terrible events. Reflections on the events and on psychoanalysts' role will appear in the next issue.