Striving to become a critical community psychologist:

Gaps between values and practice

Isaac PrilleltenskyDean, School of Education

University of Miamiisaac@miami.edu

http://www.education.miami.edu/isaac

What is critical community psychology? A form of thinking, researching, and acting in the world concerned with:

1. Making community psychology accountable to its original mission of fostering psychological and community wellness with justice, and not just with health promotion and prevention at the individual level

2. The role of power in psychological, relational, organizational, communal and environmental well-being, suffering, justice and injustice.

3. Critical reflection on how power differentials in psychological, relational, organizational, communal and political realms may perpetuate the status quo, benefit those with power, including the aspiring critical community psychologist, and make invisible the suffering and concerns of people with less power, privilege, and prestige, including our own students, community partners, and colleagues.

What values support critical community psychology?

What practices support critical community psychology?

Epistemic psychopolitical validity

Transformational psychopolitical validity

Epistemic Psychopolitical Validity

This type of validity is achieved by the systematic account of the role of power in political and psychological dynamics affecting phenomena of interest

Such account needs to consider the role of power in the psychology and politics of wellness, oppression and liberation, at the personal, relational, and collective domains.

Transformational Psychopolitical ValidityTransformational validity derives

from the potential of our actions to promote personal, relational, and collective wellness by reducing power inequalities and increasing political action

Psychopolitical Validity Concerns

Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies

Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies

Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies

Values, ResourcesPrograms, Policies

ColonizationRacismDiscriminationPovertyOrganizing

SilencingBullyingHorizontal violenceVoice and choiceInclusion

Exclusion Egalitarian relationsSolidarityDomestic violence

PowerlessnessInternalized oppressionEmpowerment

What are some gaps in critical psychology practice?We understand the role of power at

multiple levels in well-being, but focus on health related individual risk factors

We want to challenge the status quo, but often cannot or do not

We want to stop and reflect, but often are caught in systemic demands

What are some sources of gaps in critical psychology practice?

Personal tensionsOrganizational conditionsCommunity politics

What are some sources of gaps in critical psychology practice?Personal tensions1.Adjust but do not challenge the system

2.Challenge but do not adjust to the system

3.Neither adjust to, nor challenge the system

4.Adjust and challenge the system at the same time

What are some sources of gaps in critical psychology practice?Organizational conditions

Lack of generic conditions Resources Climate

Lack of specific conditions Support Awareness

What are some sources of gaps in critical psychology practice?Community politics

Risk/benefits assessment in speaking truth to power

Institutional consequencesPersonal consequences

Conclusion

Becoming a critical community psychologist is a difficult process

We need intellectual and human resources to pursue this goal

I am vulnerable to personal tensions, lack of organizational conditions, and community politics

I need challengers, monitors, role models, and supporters in the process