Under UMN Prof's Direction, a Name Change for the Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Angus MacDonald advocated for removing the word "abnormal" from the journal's title
![Cover of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/unsorted/images/journal_of_abnormal_psychology_jan_21.png)
Stigma has been an enduring problem among consumers of mental health services, and it is a way people who suffer from distressing symptoms are further traumatized.
Distinguished McKnight University Professor Angus MacDonald III is serving the American Psychological Association (APA) as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, which is the flagship journal for psychopathology with a century-long tradition of publishing high-impact research in psychopathology and clinical science with a global reach. However, it is increasingly clear that the word "abnormal" has negative connotations that contribute to the very stigma this research aims to address.
Under MacDonald's tenure as Editor-in-Chief, he has advocated for the APA to approve a title change that will remove the term "abnormal" from its title for the first time in its 115-year history. The new title will be the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. This change is small, but it reflects a growing awareness in the community of the need to support people who suffer from mental health concerns, and, conversely, that "normalcy" itself is an old-fashioned notion.
"This is a milestone that highlights a shift in the field's concerns about these issues," says MacDonald. "Of course more is necessary. Hopefully, steps like this serve as a reminder to scholars about the importance of this work—which is to help people who are traditionally marginalized."