Theme 1: History Of Community Psychology Flashcards
Define community
Community may refer to the social groups we feel we belong to to those to which we assume others belong.
In the SA context community can be interpreted in terms of race differences due to systematic discrimination by apartheid.
Students use the term when referring to poor disadvantaged black township or rural areas however these perpetuate the notion held by mainstream psychology that psych service are meant for elite and middle class who can afford it. Community psychology is only for disadvantaged who can’t afford access to individual therapy.
In the western understanding it describes a group of people that may or not be spatially connected but who share common interests concerns or identities which could be local national or international with specific interests.
In African sense it is referred to as onto triadic structure with 3 dimensions. One is the visible community of living here and now. Second is departed who believe to be members of the community known as ancestors. Third are the yet to be born.
Explain the focus of community psychology as a sub-discipline
Community psychology as a sub discipline developed in response to conditions of oppression and exclusion.
Aim is to improve community conditions and psych wellbeing. It adopts a broader theoretical and practical lens. Is multidisciplinary where it collaborates with other fields like philosophy history environmental studies politics sociology and mental health.
Nelson and Prillelteneky refer to community psychology as the study of people in context. Or…
Community psychology is the critical study of people in context directed towards the common aim of improving community conditions and promoting psychological well-being.
What is the importance and relevance of context to understanding community psychology
The origin of community psychology can be attributed to time immemorial ever since humans found a sense of belonging together and the need to organise themselves into groups and work together.
The transcendence of community psychology can be attributed to need for sub discipline to be relevant to social context under which it operates to take into consideration lived experience of people.
What two Central features are important to the development of community psychology
Community psychology is young and a continuously evolving sub discipline of psychology.
It’s development is influenced by the social context out of which it has emerged and continues to operate.
What are the core values and principles of community psychology
Prevention and competence promotion, individual wellness,sense of community and social justice,citizen participation, collaboration and community strengths, respect for human diversity, empirical grounding.
Holistic ecological analysis and intervention,health promotion, social Support,self determination, social justice, respect for diversity , accountability and inclusion, prevention, empowerment and desempowerment.
Psychological sense of community, relevant psychological praxis and social action.
Cultural relativity
Social responsive psychological praxis and social change
What is critical psychology
A heterogeneous approach within psychology that questions our assumptions about our social reality,exposes and makes visible oppressive elements within our social reality that aren’t always obvious.
Define epistemology
Is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature and Theory of knowledge,our assumptions about knowledge and the extent and validity of knowledge.
Define ontology
A branch of philosophy concerned with the study of being of reality in its most fundamental and comprehensive form incorporating theories of existence and nature of the world.
Explore the different epistemological views on psychology
Mainstream psychology assumes psychology is an objective and universal science seen as the only scientific way of understanding an individual that doesn’t take sex,race ,culture and values into consideration.
Biomedical model place focus on individual as unit of analysis and emphasize role of biological factors in influencing and affecting human behaviour. Relies on assumption of cause and effect.
African psychology organises world in a hierarchy of beings. Ancestors play important role and universe is seen as an organic and ecological where there is little distinction between nature and culture.
A critical approach to psychology is interested in values and meanings and how they influence knowledge. Locates human values,motivations and behaviours in cultural and class contexts.
The critical African perspective focus on indigenization of psychology taking into account difference in language, philosophy and worldviews through which African experience the world.
Which community organizations had an impact in the history of SA and development of community psychology
Black community programmes BCP established in 1980s aligned with liberatory drive for community self empowerment identity and solidarity.
South African students organisation SASO rendered primary health care to unserved and marginalized communities
Threate council of Natal TECON formed 1969 adopted performing arts as expression of identity and solidarity.
Psychology and apartheid group PAG
Organization for appropriate social services in SA OASSSA
