Social Justice Through Collaborative Research and Action

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

Photograph of Jessica Cantrall

Intergenerational Care Programs and the Future of Rural Communities

Posted in: Aging, Children, Youth and Families | Tags:
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Living in a rural area can come with various challenges. One of the greatest needs for children and older people in rural areas is access to essential services such as long-term care facilities and daycares. Intergenerational care facilities may be an option.

Immigrants Who Actively Participate in Receiving Communities have Better Mental Health

Posted in: Marginalized Groups, Sense of Community | Tags:
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Active community participation is positively associated with a sense of community and adding value which, in turn, increases immigrant wellbeing. Supporting organizations in their outreach to immigrants and promoting their active engagement in the community can contribute to support immigrant mental health.

Counterspaces: Fostering Healthy Identity Development

Posted in: Anti-Racism, Education, Marginalized Groups, Sense of Community | Tags:
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The Cultural Identity Project facilitated a space where students spoke to their own empowering actions developing from critical awareness, healing, and solidarity. People with power in any system must work to uproot oppression for spaces to live up to their potential.

The Power of Policy: Business Closures in Rural Communities

Posted in: Poverty and Socioeconomic Status, Rural Communities | Tags:
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Twenty percent of the population, or one out of five people, live in rural USA, where the rural population holds 12.4 percent of the manufacturing jobs. Deciding what to do with closed plants or manufacturers is an environmental issue and a public health issue. Outside of the immediate loss of jobs, the impact of closures […]

Blog: We Said It’d be Meaningful Not Easy: Navigating the (Unexpected) Hardships of Qualitative Research

Posted in: Blog, Children, Youth and Families, Prevention Science | Tags:
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The Hope Resilience Action Study was developed by Black and Latina women scholars to amplify the lived experiences of Afro Latina/Caribbean, Black, and Latina girls. The study required review by the institutional review board (IRB). The IRB reviewers shared concerns about inclusive definitions of gender and sexual orientation. This is what we did next.

Intersectionality & Ecological Systems Theory (Spanish Language)

Posted in: Environment, Public Policy | Tags:
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Carlos and his colleagues apply psychological theory to practice. As a result, he and his colleagues advance genuine and sustainable change alongside the Mapuche people.