PSYCHOLOGY 301: Community Interventions

Lecturers:
Liezille Jacobs, Prof.
Odwa Sikrweqe, Mr. liezille.jacobs@ru.ac.za
Community Psychology
Various definitions, values, goals and principles.
Development of Community Psychology and different roles of psychologist in South Africa
What is a “community”
•Community is a group of people who share
common characteristics, interests, or goals
and interact with each other within a
particular geographical area or social
network.
•Characteristics of communities include
shared identity, norms, values, and
resources.
•Understanding community is essential in
psychology for studying social interactions,
support systems, and collective well-being.
A community defined in terms of a geographical area can be described in terms of the following :

▪Demographic characteristics:
▪ The social characteristics of the residents in the area such as gender, social class, or family life cycle

▪Land use and quality of housing:

▪ The development in the area such as high-density housing, informal settlements or large farms

▪Infrastructure or formed organisations:

▪ The development pf organisations such as schools, churches, or shops.
Community vs Psychology
▪The concepts of community and psychology seem contradictory -
▪ Community refers to a group of people coming.
▪ Psychology is traditionally concerned with the health of the individual.

▪ Interrelation between the two concepts – since a “person” can be located in the collective: a
person can be part of the larger context.

▪ Community psychology is a specialised field that applies and interacts will all basic areas of
psychological knowledge, such as social psychology, group dynamics, personality and
development psychology, as well as critical psychology.

▪ It also adopts intervention principles from and skills from counselling and clinical psychology.
Definition- Community Psychology
▪Community Psychology concerns the relationship of individuals with the communities and
societies.

▪It concerns with understanding people in the context of their communities, using a variety of
interventions (including prevention, health promotion, and social action) to facilitate change and
improved mental health.

▪Community Psychology focuses on social issues, social institutions, and other settings that
influence groups and organizations with the goal to optimize the wellbeing of communities.
The development of Community
Psychology
▪Community Psychology is a dynamic and evolving field within psychology that focuses on
understanding and promoting well-being within communities.

▪It developed as a reaction to the inability of traditional Clinical Psychology to address the
psychosocial problems of people.

▪Individually-based interventions have a limited impact on community health.

▪As a result, community psychology developed to give a wider scope to psychology by on

community processes and intervention tools to deal with problems at various levels of the
community.
The advent of Community Psychology can be traced back, where it emerged from the
dissatisfaction with the healthcare system, in the following aspects:

▪Psychologists opposed the domination of psychiatrists in the mental health field, They felt that the
value of professional psychology was being undermined and limited.

▪Growing awareness that there were major sections of the population for whom mental health
services were non-existent. Those that did exist were extremely expensive and irrelevant to the
needs of the majority of people.

▪The focus of psychology was on remedial services and no attention was given to the prevention
and promotion of health.
Critical
Psychology
Critical psychology challenges traditional
approaches by questioning power
dynamics and social inequalities.

Key principles include examining systems

of oppression, promoting social change,
and advocating for marginalized groups.

Critical psychology encourages reflexivity

and consciousness-raising to address
structural injustices.
African Psychology
▪African psychology encompasses diverse
cultural and indigenous perspectives on
mental health and well-being.

▪It emphasizes communalism, spirituality,

and holistic approaches to healing.

▪African psychology seeks to decolonize

Western-centric perspectives and empower
communities through culturally relevant
interventions.
Comparisons and Connections
▪While each field has distinct focuses and approaches, they share common goals of promoting
well-being and social justice.

▪Community psychology, critical psychology, and African psychology all emphasize collaboration,
empowerment, and cultural sensitivity.

▪Understanding diverse perspectives in psychology enriches our understanding of human behavior

and social systems.
Mainstream Psychology
▪Mainstream psychology refers to the dominant perspective in the field, which focuses on studying
individual behaviour, cognition, and mental processes.
▪Mainstream psychology typically addresses issues such as personality, cognition, perception, and
psychopathology at the individual level.
▪Characteristics:
▪ Individualistic focus: Mainstream psychology primarily examines the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of
individuals.
▪ Clinical and counselling applications: It is often associated with clinical psychology and counselling,
focusing on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders.
▪ Emphasis on empirical research: Mainstream psychology relies heavily on empirical evidence and
experimental research to validate theories and hypotheses.
Contrasting Mainstream and
Community Psychology
▪Mainstream psychology focuses on
understanding individual behaviour and
cognition.
▪Mainstream psychology relies on controlled
experiments and laboratory research.
▪Mainstream psychology primarily addresses
mental health disorders and individual
therapy.
▪Community psychology examines social
contexts and collective well-being.
▪Community psychology employs
participatory methods and community-
based interventions.
▪Community psychology aims to prevent
problems, promote resilience, and foster
social justice at the community level.
Values and goals of Community
Psychology
Self-Determination and Participation:

◦ Self-Determination: Community Psychology values the autonomy and agency of individuals and
communities to define their own goals and solutions.

◦ Participation: It emphasizes the active involvement of community members in decision-making processes,

program development, and implementation.

◦ Together, self-determination and participation empower communities to address their own needs and
create sustainable solutions.
Values and goals of Community
Psychology
Respect for Diversity and Human Dignity:

◦ Respect for Diversity: Community Psychology recognizes and celebrates the diversity of individuals and
communities, including differences in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and
socioeconomic status.

◦ Human Dignity: It upholds the inherent worth and value of every individual, promoting inclusion,
acceptance, and equity for all members of society.

◦ By respecting diversity and human dignity, Community Psychology fosters inclusive and supportive
environments that honour the unique strengths and experiences of each person.
Values and goals of Community
Psychology
Social Justice:

◦ Social Justice: Community Psychology is committed to promoting fairness, equity, and social change to
address systemic injustices and disparities.

◦ It seeks to identify and challenge oppressive structures and policies that perpetuate inequality and
marginalization.

◦ Social justice in Community Psychology involves advocating for policies and practices that promote equal
opportunities, access to resources, and human rights for all members of society.
The role of a Community
Psychologist
▪ A community psychologist is a trained mental health professional who applies psychological
principles and methods to understand and address social issues within communities.

▪Responsibilities:
▪ Conduct community assessments to identify strengths and needs.
▪ Collaborate with community members to develop and implement interventions.
▪ Advocate for social justice and empower individuals and communities.

▪Impact: Community psychologists play a crucial role in promoting well-being, preventing social
problems, and fostering social change within communities.
Questions?