Chapter 1 Flashcards
The Community Psychology approach is built on (4):
- Prevention
- Promotion
- Empowerment
- Community participation
“Psychology”
Traditionally concerned with the health of an individual, or the influence of the immediate family on those aspects of the individual.
“Community”
Some grouping of individuals, either through shared endeavours, shared locality, or some sort of linkage.
What is Community Psychology?
The integration of these 2 concepts (Community+Psychology), the focus on the study of the interactions between individuals at multiple levels:
Family
Friends
Workplace
School
Neighbourhood
Social context in which people live
It is a shift of focus from an individualistic perspective , to an ecological/structural perspective.
What are the 4 definitions on CP?
- Seeks to understand individuals within the context of their communities.
- using variety of interventions (prevention, health promotion, social action) to facilitate change and improve mental health and social conditions of the people. - Approach to understanding and solving community, organisational, and societal problems, using psychological principles and techniques to improve well-being and effectiveness of people - Critical Liberatory Approach to Psychology.
- Understanding relationships individuals have with communities and societies.
- integrating research+action= seeks to understand and enhance quality of life. - A value driven, action oriented field, focused on reducing oppression, and supporting people.
Why is the concept of “social context” important in CP?
- social context can impact peoples lives.
- behaviours need to be understood within that context.
- the context gives meaning to behaviours.
- leads to better understanding of individual and collectivist behaviours.
- leads to a broader understanding of individual functioning to provide more effective solutions or interventions to resolve problems.
Name and explain the key characteristics of CP:
Social relevance- the real problems people experience.
Ecological conceptualisation - understanding behaviour in terms of the interaction with social and physical environments e.g. homelessness.
Action oriented to promote health, quality of life, well-being- uses psychological principles and techniques to prevent problems.
Value drives- promotes social justice and collaboration.
What is the FOCUS of CP.
The interaction of the individual and the community, community characteristics, culture, and processes that influences the lives of people.
What is the AIM of CP.
Improve quality of life through intervention strategies.
What is the difference between CP an mainstream psychology?
Sociology studies society, without the focus on developing interventions and implementing them.
Social workers focuses more on the immediate conditions in which people live.
Clinical psychology focuses on one individual at a time.
Community psychology seeks to understand the interaction between people and communities, determines what and where the problems are located, seeks to enhance the quality of life.
“COMMUNITY” can be defined in terms of 4 contexts:
Location
Network of social relationships
Way of life
Socio-political organisations
Define community as location.
A group of people in a geographical and physical area. Interpersonal relationships in communities are often based on PROXIMITY and SHAREC EXPERIENCES.
What characteristics are present in community as location?
Demographic characteristics
Land use and quality of housing
Infrastructure or formal organisations
Define community as a network of social relationships.
A network of relationships, where a group shares some common characteristic, values, interests.
What characteristics are present in community as a network of social relationships.
Membership
Influence
Fulfilment of needs
Shared emotional connections
Define community as a way of life.
The meaning people attach to reality is informed by the physical and social contexts in which they live.
Define community psychology as sociopolitical organisation.
Communities can form a collective power structure that follow centra in causes and influences decision making.
Activist groups prolife and pro choice?
