I do not claim this information as my own, these notes are made using the following textbook:
,Chapter 1: Community Psychology
Case study: Jamestown community project (JCP):
An oppressive cycle of poverty characterized by a lack of formal education, alcohol abuse
and labor exploitation, and are dependent on casual and seasonal framework for a living. The
children are bussed in daily from the surrounding wine estates and farms. The high level of
need for psychological services at the primary health clinic in the community prompted the
nursing manager to ask for help from the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch
University.
Guided by a prevention-oriented conceptual model of Community Psychology and
community-based participatory action research, the Department did not offer treatment
sessions at the clinic.
- The case study illustrates how a Community Psychology approach built on
prevention, promotion, empowerment, and community participation extended possible
interventions to multifaceted remedial and preventive interventions
What is community psych?
• Community -> people coming together
• Psychology -> traditionally concerned with the health of the individual
• The two concepts are integrated to focus on the study of interaction between individuals
at multiple levels: family, networks of friends, workplace, school, neighborhoods, and the
social contexts in which people live
• Brings an integrated focus of the different subfields of Psychology, for example social
psychology, personality psychology etc.
• Can be considered as a Critical Liberatory Approach to Psychology as it carries a social
justice and a liberatory approach.
• It also focuses on ethical values of social justice, paying attention to
diversities, prevention, systemic frameworks, empowerment, and democratic
participation.
Definitions of community psych.:
• Difficulty with capturing a specific definition due to the complexities inherent in the
work.
• Concerned with understanding people in the context of their communities using a variety
of interventions to facilitate change and improve mental health and social conditions for
individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
• It is a value driven action-oriented field focused on reducing oppression and supporting
wellbeing at all levels.
2
, • An approach to understanding and solving community, organizational, and societal
problems by applying well established psychological principles and techniques
• Studies the relationship of individuals with communities and societies through action
research in order to enhance the quality of life of communities and its individuals
Key characteristics:
• Social Relevance: Socially responsive psychological praxis/practice that deals with the
real issues that people experience
• Ecological Conceptualization-People's behaviors can only be understood in terms of the
interactions of the systems they live in, for example their social and physical
environments.
• Action-Orientated: to promote healthy quality of life and wellbeing- Uses psychological
principles and techniques to prevent problems.
• Value Driven: Promotes values of social justice and collaborations
• Continue reading about some of the characteristics and competencies of community
psychology
Difference between community psych. and mainstream psych.:
• Sociology studies societies-but without focus on developing interventions and
implementing them
• Social work focuses more on changing the immediate conditions in which people live
• Clinical Psychology focuses on treating one individual at a time
• Community psychology studies the interaction of individuals with their communities,
determines what and where the problems are located, examine how community
characteristics, culture, and internal and external resources can be utilized to enhance
quality of life.
Definition of community:
• The concept of “community” is viewed differently in community psychology.
• In History community was spoken of in racial terms such as Black, White, Coloured
people and so forth.
• In Community Psychology, community is defined beyond this limited views.
Community as a location:
• Traditionally a community is defined as a group of people in a geopolitical area and
physical area with demarcation around the neighborhood.
• A community defined in terms of geographical area can be described in terms of the
following:
• Demographic characteristics: The social characteristics of residents in the area such as
gender, social class, or family life cycle
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