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
Screen Mothers, Help Kids: An Innovative Community-Based Partnership Helps Amplify the Voices of Children
Posted in: Violence Prevention | Tags: Featured ContentChildren are often the unheard voices of domestic violence. Screening mothers for the impact of domestic violence on their kids is one way to connect kids with appropriate DV services in the community.
A Collaboration Framework for Environmental Sustainability
Posted in: Environment | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyA people-focused approach is a new framework for working within or alongside organizations to bring about sustainability-related changes. Community Psychologists can work beside people within an organization to support them as they embed a sustainability culture.
Creating a Healing Community to Promote Racial Justice
Posted in: Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentAlternative settings, like CBTL can provide relational healing spaces grounded in collectively held values of care, recognition, and reciprocity. CBTL exists within contexts of race and coloniality, but seeks to form solidarities, broader practices, and ways of relating within creative industries.
The Roles of Settings in Supporting Immigrants’ Resistance to Injustice and Oppression: A Policy Position Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action
Posted in: Immigrant Justice | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologySettings of various sizes and scopes can support immigrants’ resistance to oppression. This policy statement describes how.
“Here to Stay”: A High School Course formed with Community Psychology
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: Global Journal of Community Psychology PracticeLatinx high school students co-create and co-lead a course focused on identity and social action providing an example for others creating transformative educational opportunities for marginalized students.
The Community Psychologist Podcast: Alesha Bond
Posted in: Education, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentGeorgia State University graduate student Alesha Bond discusses the necessity of student organizing to push for change and the intersections of her research and organizing. Alesha shares some accomplishments, discusses the challenge of navigating power differentials, and provides advice to graduate student organizers.
Featured Research
“Safe Space” or “Brave Space”: How GSAs can Address Intersectionality
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyCollective norms around race and immigration talk facilitated or impeded the extent to which these were discussed. Advisors and student leaders can embrace a “brave space” rather than a “safe space” dynamic to encourage students to participate in intersectional conversations.
Creating the Most Effective Collaborative Infrastructure
Posted in: Coalition Building, Criminal Justice, Violence Prevention | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyWhile infrastructures can improve teams’ relationships and work, some are difficult to implement. SARTs could first focus on infrastructures that build trust and buy-in before adopting other accountability-focused infrastructures. Improving SART infrastructures can help promote SART collaboration and thereby improve survivors’ experiences.
Learning “Maleness”: Implications for Mental Health
Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Mental Health | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyMasculinity and mental health are related, especially for adolescent boys. Findings reveal the need to support adolescent boys to resist expectations of stereotypical masculinity.
Brief Consultation Supports Interventions
Posted in: Education | Tags: Featured ResearchPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyTeachers receiving brief consultations taught more content than those who did not receive consultations. Consultation support to deliver a school-based program may need to be tailored and made briefer than is typical to fit different school contexts.
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.
