What is Community Psychology?
Social justice. Action-oriented research. Global in nature. Influencing public policy. Working for empowerment. Multidisciplinary in focus. Celebrating culture. Preventing harm. Behavior in context. Social action. Supporting community strengths. Reducing oppression. Promoting well-being. Scientific inquiry. Honoring human rights. Respecting diversity.
Community psychology goes beyond an individual focus and integrates social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and international influences to promote positive change, health, and empowerment at individual and systemic levels.
Featured New Content
Retiring Juvenile Detention Centers for Wrap-Around Community-Based Services
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Criminal Justice | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologySubmitted by: Jill D. Sharkey, Lauren A. Reed, Althea Wroblewski All too often, juvenile detention centers (JDCs) are seen as a solution to providing a safe and secure housing option for youth where they can obtain treatment and rehabilitation after involvement in the criminal justice system. However, youth in JDCs, and girls in particular, have […]
Comparing Youth Participatory Approaches
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyThere are many commonalities among Community-Psychology-informed youth participatory approaches. However, approaches differ on the level of emphasis on research to inform action, how much decision-making power young people have throughout the process, and the role and power of adults.
Theater: Engaging in Critical Thinking about Social Justice
Posted in: Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyUsing visual and creative methods, we can engage people in thinking about social justice and their place and responsibilities within it. Art can be an engaging way to encourage people with privilege to work towards social justice.
The HEAL Lab: Healing Health Inequity Together
Posted in: Healthcare, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyCritical Conscious-ness Theory and Community Based Participatory Results can help communities address health disparities. The HEAL lab provides a support network and engages diverse stakeholders in critical reflection as they participate in research to advance health equity.
Supporting Community-Based DV Services Through Academic Collaboration
Posted in: Coalition Building, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: Global Journal of Community Psychology PracticeInterventions to reduce negative effects of domestic violence are highly context dependent. Latina DV survivors face unique socio-cultural barriers when seeking services. Community-based resources can be supported by collaborative academic partnerships to strengthen the evaluation component of the work.
When the Feds Need Help: Community-Based Policing and Deportation
Posted in: Criminal Justice, Immigrant Justice | Tags: Featured ContentWhile there is a long history of cooperation between local police and sheriffs and federal immigration agents in the United States, the issue has more recently become a source of conflict. Local police and sheriffs are increasingly seen as “force multipliers” for the federal government causing some backlash at a time when many are calling […]
Featured Research
Coping with Mental Illness on Tumblr
Posted in: Mental Health | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyMarginalized groups use social media to build social capital and form communities. Social media can be a valuable resource for people experiencing mental illness, but the support experienced online varies among #hashtag communities on Tumblr.
Recovery from Substance Abuse: We are as Successful as Those around Us
Posted in: Housing, Substance Use | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyThe social environment may be a more important influence on substance abuse recovery than previously recognized. Recovery can be strongly influenced by others with whom the recovering individual has regular social contact, whether for good or for bad.
Gender-Informed Programming for Incarcerated Girls
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Criminal Justice | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyTreatments and programs in the juvenile justice system may not work as well for girls as they do for boys. Rehabilitation programs must be understood in context including different program format types (individual, group, family) and program emphases (cognitive, behavioral, family systems).
Activism is Powerful for LGBT Folks
Posted in: Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyPeople who identify as LGBT are more likely to experience psychological distress than their heterosexual peers. Participating in LGBT-related civic and advocacy may foster connection among LGBT people, which may in turn support their well-being.
Social Action Challenging Privilege and Oppression: How Emerging Adults Decide What to Do and When
Posted in: Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyEmerging adults reflect on social issues broadly and think critically about how and when to become involved in action. This work can inform strategies to engage individuals in social justice efforts aimed at creating social change across the life-span.
Lessons Learned from a Family-Based Intervention for Court-Involved Girls
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Criminal Justice | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyFamily-based interventions have the potential to reduce recidivism in girls. Contextual factors such as poverty, an unstructured home life, domestic violence, and neglect must be addressed in successful interventions.
