Critical Community Psychology

The Critical Community Psychology interest group seeks to build a community of scholars involved in various forms of critical community psychology to engage in knowledge building and critical praxis to move towards more actionable social transformation projects and deeper engagement with progressive social movements and activists.

Critical Community Psychology

Critical community psychology can be thought of as an umbrella term that covers a number of politically radical responses to, and differences from, traditional community psychology. It is a particular kind of orientation to community psychological theory and practice. Critical community psychology—as with other forms of critical scholarship—takes as its starting point a commitment to “bring about a radically better society” (D. Fox, 2000, p. 21). It demands that we be acutely aware of the pervasive influence of power in creating and maintaining unjust social conditions (Teo, 2015). In solidarity and close partnership with groups—oppressed through violence, exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, or cultural imperialism—critical community psychology seeks to draw attention to the socially divisive and ecologically destructive broader patterns and structures—such as capitalism, neoliberal globalization, patriarchy, colonialism, hegemony, and racism—that condition the scope of social problems and engage in collective action to dismantle oppressive social arrangements. (Evans, Duckett, Lawthom, & Kivell, 2017)

Books & Chapters

Evans, S. D., Duckett, P., Lawthom, R., & Kivell, N. (2017). Positioning the critical in community psychology. In M. A. Bond, I. Serrano-García, and C. B. Keys (Eds.). APA Handbook of Community Psychology: Vol. 1. Theoretical Foundations, Core Concepts, and Emerging Challenges (pp. 107-128). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Kagan, C., Burton, M., Duckett, P., Lawthom, R., & Siddiquee, A. (2020). Critical community psychology: Critical action and social change (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.

Kagan, C., Burton, M., Duckett, P., Lawthom, R., & Siddiquee, A. (2011). Critical Community Psychology (1st ed.). West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.

Prilleltensky, I., & Nelson, G. (1997). Community psychology: Reclaiming social justice. In D. Fox & I. Prilleltensky (Eds.), Critical psychology: An introduction (pp. 166-184). London: Sage.

Watkins, M., & Shulman, H. (2008). Toward Psychologies Of Liberation (1st ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

Articles

Angelique, H. (2012), Embodying critical feminism in community psychology: unraveling the fabric of gender and class. J. Community Psychol., 40: 77–92. doi: 10.1002/jcop.20488

Angelique, H. & Kyle, K. (2002). Monterey declaration of critical community psychology. The Community Psychologist, A Publication of the Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association. 35(1), 35-36.

Burton, M., & Kagan, C. (2015). Theory and practice for a critical community psychology in the UK. Psicología, Conocimiento y Sociedad, 5(2), 182–205.

Burton, M. & Kagan, C. (2001). Community Psychology: Why this gap in Britain? Paper presented at the British Psychological Society Centennial Conference, Glasgow, March 2001. Available at http://www.compsy.org.uk/Histcp.pdf

Davidson, H., Evans, S., Ganote, C., Henrickson, J., Jacobs-Priebe, L., Jones, D. L., . . . Riemer, M. (2006). Power and action in critical theory across disciplines: Implications for critical community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 38(1-2), 35-49. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10464-006-9061-4.

Dutta, U. (2018). Decolonizing “Community” in Community Psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62(3–4). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12281

Evans, S. D. (2015). The Community Psychologist as Critical Friend: Promoting Critical Community Praxis. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 25(4), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2213

Evans, S. D., Kivell, N., Haarlammert, M., Malhotra, K., & Rosen, A. (2014). Critical community practice: An introduction to the special section. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 6(1), 1–15.

Fisher, A. T., Sonn, C. C. and Evans, S. D. (2007), The place and function of power in community psychology: philosophical and practical issues. J. Community. Appl. Soc. Psychol., 17: 258–267. doi: 10.1002/casp.934

Fox, R., Nic Giolla Easpaig, B., & Watson, L. (2019). Making Space for Community Critical Methodology: Stories from the Australian Context. American Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12302

Fryer, D., Duckett, P., & Pratt, R. (2004). Critical community psychology: what, why and how? Clinical Psychology, 38, 39-43.

Fryer, D., & Fagan, R. (2003). Toward A critical community psychological perspective on unemployment and mental health research. American Journal of Community Psychology, 32(1), 89-96. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205352288?accountid=14585

Kagan, C., & Burton, M. (2001). Critical Community Psychology Praxis for the 21st Century. Presented at the British Psychological Society Conference, Glasgow. Retrieved from http://www.compsy.org.uk/GLASGOX5.pdf

Langhout, R. D. (2016). This is Not a History Lesson; This is Agitation: A Call for a Methodology of Diffraction in US-Based Community Psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 58(3–4), 322–328. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12039

Nelson, G., & Evans, S. D. (2014). Critical Community Psychology and Qualitative Research A Conversation. Qualitative Inquiry, 20(2), 158–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800413510873

Rappaport, J. (2005) Community psychology is (thank God) more than a science. American Journal of Community Psychology, 35(3/4), 231-238.

Reyes Cruz, M., & Sonn, C. C. (2011). (De)colonizing culture in community psychology: Reflections from critical social science. American Journal of Community Psychology, 47(1-2), 203-14. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10464-010-9378-x

Sandler, J. (2007). Community-based practices: Integrating dissemination theory with critical theories of power and justice. American Journal of Community Psychology, 40(3-4), 272-89. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10464-007-9131-2

Thompson, M. (2005). The concepts, values and ideas of critical community psychology. Retrieved from HERE

Watkins, M., & Ciofalo, N. (2011). Creating and Sharing Critical Community Psychology Curriculum for the 21st Century: An Invitation. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 2(2), 9–18.

Additional Critical CP readings and resources can be found HERE.

Why Critical CP?

Why Critical Community Psychology? - Paul Duckett (2018, YouTube Video)