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 Research
The Effects of Deportation on Families and Communities
Posted in: Aging, Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups, Public Policy | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyDeportation has numerous detrimental impacts on individuals who are deported, and on the families and communities they are forced to leave behind. This policy statement reviews the empirical literature to describe the effects of deportation on the individual, families, and the broader community, in order to inform policy and practice recommendations.
Why Chatting with your Best Friend about how much Fun you had at the Party is Good for You and Your Community’s Health
Posted in: Prevention Science, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyHow much people experience and share positive experiences varies day-to-day.and translating these experiences to resilient cognition differs person-to-person.
Teach the Children Well: Social Justice in College Predicts Preference for Socially Responsible Jobs
Posted in: Education | Tags: Featured ResearchTaking a social justice focused course or participating in extracurricular volunteering made it more likely for students to want to work for a socially responsible company.
What is Life Like in an Immigrant Detention Center?
Posted in: Marginalized Groups, Public Policy, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ResearchThe inhumanity of detention has far reaching effects on communities outside of the detention facility.
Improving After-School Programming
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyWe can improve the effectiveness of afterschool programs by setting high expectations for youth, encouraging staff teamwork and engagement, and providing opportunities for staff to personally identify with youth they are serving.
The Psychological Value of Activism
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyLGBTQ & GNC youth experience economic hardships and social stress in ways that continue to pose a threat to their health and well-being. Engaging in activist efforts can potentially improve their health in addition to furthering social change.
Featured New Content
Community Psychology in the Cloud: How One CP Practitioner Uses the Practice Competencies to Work in Everyone’s Community
Posted in: Inspiration, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: The Community PsychologistCommunity Psychologists work in online communities too! Nicole Freund interviews Jessica Drum about how her degree in Community Psychology enriches Facebook communities.
Hands Across the Hills
Posted in: Coalition Building, Inspiration, Poverty and Socioeconomic Status, Rural Communities | Tags: Featured ContentThe United States feels divided by race, social class, and political ideologies. Hands Across the Hills seeks to increase personal connections and promote greater understanding.
Demystifying Decolonialization: A Practical Example from the Classroom
Posted in: Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured Content, PracticePublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyDecolonization is a process of examining and undoing unearned privilege resulting from historical and present day injustice. As a process, decolonization can push students from apathy to develop a sense of activism.
Just Living is Not Enough: Community Gardens Promote Life and Connection to Others
Posted in: Environment, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ContentCommunity gardens are more than pretty spaces. We can (and should) measure pro-social community-level programs to better understand how and why they work.
How to Use Feedback Loops to Engage your Community
Posted in: Coalition Building, Sense of Community | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: Global Journal of Community Psychology PracticeInvolving marginalized voices in the community can be difficult. The Feedback Loop process is one way to more authentically engage more folks.
Introducing Alternatives to Suicide: An Interview with Caroline Mazel-Carlton about a New Approach to Crisis
Posted in: Mental Health, Self Help | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: The Community PsychologistSuicide is a highly stigmatized topic that many people fear talking about openly (and hearing about). Often, suicidal people are afraid to share their feelings due to the possibility of being blamed, or the potential for coercive consequences such as involuntary commitment (references below). Mutual support groups can help provide a space where people can speak more freely about this topic.
