Community psychology
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 215458880 by [[Special:Contributions/195.158.96.181|195.158.96.181]] ([[User talk:195.158.96.181|talk]]) spurious period
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'''Community psychology''' deals with the relationships of the individual to communities and the wider society. Community psychologists seek to understand the quality of life of individuals, communities, and society. Their aim is to enhance quality of life through collaborative research and action.<ref name = Dalton&01>Dalton, J.H., Elias, M.J., & Wandersman, A. (2001). "Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities." Stamford, CT: Wadsworth.</ref>.
Community Psychology makes use of various perspectives within and outside of [[Psychology]] to address issues of communities, the relationships within them, and people's attitudes about them. Through collaborative research and action, community psychologists (practitioners and researchers) seek to understand and to enhance quality of life for individuals, communities, and society. Community psychology takes a public health approach and focuses on prevention and early intervention as a means to solve problems in addition to treatment. Rappaport (1977) discusses the perspective of community psychology as an ecological perspective with the person-environment fit being the focus of study and action instead of attempting to change the person or the environment when an individual is seen as having a problem.<ref name = Rappaport77>Rappaport, J. (1977). "Community Psychology: Values, Research, & Action". New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.</ref>
Closely related disciplines include [[Social psychology (psychology)|Social Psychology]], [[Political Science]], [[Sociology]] and [[Community development]].
==Society for Community Research & Action==
Division 27 of the [[American Psychological Association]] is the community psychology division of APA, called the [http://scra27.org Society for Community Research & Action (SCRA)]. The Society's mission is as follows:
<blockquote>The Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) is an international organization devoted to advancing theory, research, and social action. Its members are committed to promoting health and empowerment and to preventing problems in communities, groups, and individuals. SCRA serves many different disciplines that focus on community research and action.<ref>[http://scra27.org/about.html Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)]. Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. Retrieved on: [[February 5]], [[2008]].</ref></blockquote>
The SCRA website has resources for teaching and learning community psychology, information on events in the field and related to research and action, how to become involved and additional information on the field, members and undergraduate and graduate programs in community psychology.
==History of Community Psychology in the U.S.==
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, many factors contributed to the beginning of community psychology in the U.S. Some of these factors include:
* A shift away from socially conservative, individual-focused practices in health care and psychology into a progressive period concerned with issues of public health, prevention and social change after World War II<ref name = Dalton&01/>
* The perceived need of larger-scale mental illness treatment for veterans<ref name = Rappaport77/>
* Psychologists questioning the value of psychotherapy alone in treating large numbers of people with mental illness<ref name = Rappaport77/>
* The development of community mental health centers and deinstitutionalization of people with mental illnesses into their communities<ref name = Dalton&01/>
===Swampscott Conference===
In 1965, several psychologists met to discuss the future of community mental health as well as discuss the issue of only being involved with problems of mental health instead of the community as a whole. The '''Swampscott Conference''' is considered the birthplace of community psychology. A published report on the conference calls for community psychologists to be political activists, agents of social change and “participant-conceptualizers.”<ref name = Dalton&01/>
==Theories, Concepts & Values in Community Psychology==
===Ecological Levels of Analysis===
[[Urie Bronfenbrenner |Bronfenbrenner]] (1979) developed a framework for community psychology research containing multiple ecological levels that should be examined and considered for every phenomenon being studied.<ref>Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). "The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design". Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.</ref>
* '''Individuals''': Studied in terms of person-environment fit
* '''Microsystems''': Environment in which an individual has the most direct contact, such as classrooms, families, sports teams, self-help groups
* '''Organizations''': Larger microsystems an individual belongs to, such as choirs, school / business organizations, staff teams
* '''Localities''': Communities or geographic localities, such as city blocks, towns, rural areas
* '''Macrosystems''': Societies at large, including government, culture
===First-Order and Second-Order Change===
[[Watzlawick]], ''et al.'' (1974) differentiated between first-order and second-order change and how second-order change is often the focus of community psychology.<ref>Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J., & Fisch, R. (1974). "Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution". New York: Norton.</ref>
* '''First-Order Change''': Changing the individuals in a setting to attempt to fix a problem.
* '''Second-Order Change''': Attending to systems and structures involved with the problem to adjust the person-environment fit.
As an example of how these methods differ, consider homelessness. A first-order change to “fix” homelessness would be to offer shelter to one or many homeless people. A second-order change would be to address issues in policy regarding affordable housing.
===Empowerment===
One of the goals of community psychology involves [[Empowerment]] of individuals and communities that have been marginalized by society.
One definition for the term is “an intentional, ongoing process centered in the local community, involving mutual respect, critical reflection, caring, and group participation, through which people lacking an equal share of resources gain greater access to and control over those resources (Cornell Empowerment Group).<ref>Zimmerman, M.A. (2000). Empowerment Theory: Psychological, Organizational and Community Levels of Analysis. "Handbook of Community Psychology", 43-63.</ref>
Rappaport’s (1984) definition includes: “Empowerment is viewed as a process: the mechanism by which people, organizations, and communities gain mastery over their lives.”<ref>Rappaport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. "Prevention in human Services, 3, 1-7.</ref>
While empowerment has had an important place in community psychology research and literature, some have criticized its use. Riger (1993), for example, points to the paradoxical nature of empowerment being a masculine, individualistic construct being used in community research.<ref>Riger, S. (1993). What's wrong with empowerment? "American Journal of Community Psychology", 21(3), 279-292</ref>
===Social Justice===
A core value of community psychology is seeking [[Social Justice]] through research and action. Community psychologists are often advocates for equality and policies that allow for the wellbeing of all people, particularly marginalized populations.<ref name = Dalton&01/>
===Diversity===
Another value of community psychology involves embracing [[Multiculturalism|Diversity]]. Rappaport includes diversity as a defining aspect of the field, calling research to be done for the benefit of diverse populations in gaining equality and justice. This value is seen through much of the research done with communities regardless of ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, disability status, socioeconomic status, gender and age.<ref name = Rappaport77/>
===Individual Wellness===
Individual wellness is the physical and psychological wellbeing of all people. Research in community psychology focuses on methods to increase individual wellness, particularly through prevention and second-order change.<ref name = Dalton&01/>
===Citizen Participation===
Citizen participation refers to the ability of individuals to have a voice in decision-making, defining and addressing problems, and the dissemination of information gathered on them.<ref name = Dalton&01/> This is the basis for the usage of [[Participatory Action Research]] in community psychology, where community members are often involved in the research process by sharing their unique knowledge and experience with the research team and working as co-researchers.
===Collaboration and Community Strengths===
[[Collaboration]] with community members to construct research and action projects makes community psychology an exceptionally applied field. By allowing communities to use their knowledge to contribute to projects in a collaborative, fair and equal manner, the process of research can itself be empowering to citizens. This requires an ongoing relationship between the researcher and the community from before the research begins to after the research is over.<ref name = Dalton&01/>
===Psychological Sense of Community===
Psychological Sense of Community (or simply '''[[Sense of community|Sense of Community]]'''), was introduced in 1974 by [[Seymour Sarason]]<ref>Sarason, S.B. (1974). ''The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology''. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.</ref>. In 1986 a major step was taken by David McMillan<ref>McMillan, D.W., & Chavis, D.M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. ''American Journal of Community Psychology'', 14(1), 6-23.</ref> and David Chavis<ref>Chavis, D.M., & Wandersman, A. (1990). Sense of community in the urban environment: A catalyst for participation and community development. ''American Journal of Community Psychology'', 18(1), 55-81.</ref> with the publication of their Theory of Sense of Community and Sense of Community Index. Originally designed primarily in reference to neighborhoods, the Sense of Community Index (SCI) can be adapted to study other communities as well, including the workplace, schools, religious communities, Community of interest|communities of interest, etc.
===Empirical Grounding===
Community psychology grounds all advocacy and social justice action in empiricism. This [[Empirical|Empirical Grounding]] is what separates community psychology from a social movement or grassroots organization. Methods from psychology have been adapted for use in the field that acknowledge value-driven, subjective research involving community members. The methods used in community psychology are therefore tailored to each individual research question. Quantitative as well as qualitative methods and other innovative methods are embraced.<ref name = Dalton&01/>
==See also==
{{Portal|Community}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
* [[Crowd psychology]]
* [[Cultural psychology]]
* [[Social psychology]]
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* [[Mob mentality]]
* [[Group dynamics]]
* [[Groupthink]]
{{Col-end}}
==Peer-reviewed journals==
The following journals provide peer-reviewed articles related to Community Psychology:
* American Journal of Community Psychology (Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) journal)
* The Australian Community Psychologist (Journal of the Australian Psychological Society)<ref>[http://www.groups.psychology.org.au/ccom/publications/ APS College of Community Psychologists: Publications]. Retrieved on: [[December 29]], [[2007]].</ref>
* Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology (international journal)
* Journal of Community Psychology (international journal)
* Journal of Rural Community Psychology (e-journal)<ref name = socpsynet>Social Psychology Network [http://www.socialpsychology.org/community.htm#commpsychjournals Professional Journals]. Retrieved on: [[December 19]], [[2007]].</ref>
In addition, there are a number of interdisciplinary journals, such as the Community Mental Health Journal,<ref name = socpsynet /> with articles in the field of community health that deal with aspects of community psychology.
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). "The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design". Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
*Dalton, J.H., Elias, M.J., & Wandersman, A. (2001). "Community Psychology: Linking Individuals and Communities". Stamford, CT: Wadsworth.
*Chavis, D.M., & Wandersman, A. (1990). Sense of community in the urban environment: A catalyst for participation and community development. ''American Journal of Community Psychology'', 18(1), 55-81.
*McMillan, D.W., & Chavis, D.M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. ''American Journal of Community Psychology'', 14(1), 6-23.
*Rappaport, J. (1977). "Community Psychology: Values, Research, & Action". New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
*Rappaport, J. (1984). Studies in empowerment: Introduction to the issue. "Prevention in human Services, 3, 1-7.
*Riger, S. (1993). What's wrong with empowerment? "American Journal of Community Psychology", 21(3), 279-292.
*Sarason, S.B. (1974). ''The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology''. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
*Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J., & Fisch, R. (1974). "Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution". New York: Norton.
*Zimmerman, M.A. (2000). Empowerment Theory: Psychological, Organizational and Community Levels of Analysis. "Handbook of Community Psychology", 43-63.
==External links==
*[http://scra27.org The Society for Community Research and Action] - Division 27 of APA.
*[http://youtube.com/watch?v=1kg-k70iPag Psychology & Action: Community Psychology] – An introduction to community psychology on YouTube
*[http://www.communitypsychology.net/ Community Psychology Net]
*See [http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=44&p=7064 "What is Community Psychology?"] at Wilfrid Laurier University
{{Psychology}}
[[Category:Community]]
[[Category:Applied psychology]]
[[de:Gemeindepsychologie]]
[[fr:Psychologie communautaire]]
[[it:Psicologia di comunità]]