Community_psychology

{{globalise}} The definition below should be read as particular to a US-American reading of community psychology. More specifically, it is probably a US-American reading of community psychology from a clinical psychological perspective. There are a number of other ways of defining community psychology which, as more community psychologists access this page, will hopefully be offered in the future. Presently, there are networks of community psychologists in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North and South America, for example. Each network, in each continent, and in each country in each of those continents have particular historical, political and cultural interpretations of where community psychology originated, how it has developed, how it is presently constituted and how it might develop in the future. Indeed versions of what constitutes the course and content of community psychology are contested between as well as within countries, reflecting differing professional and political perspectives, socio-political histories and personal biographies. So, until a less US-American, clinically-oriented definition is offered, here is the US-American , clinically embedded definition of community psychology: '''Community Psychology''' lies at the intersection of Social_Psychology, Political_Science, and Community_development. It is the study of how to use the principles of psychology to create communities of all sizes that promote mental health of their members. The basic tenets of Community Psychology are: # Any non-biological mental illness can either be caused by or aggravated by a mismatch between a person's personality and the community environment in which he or she exists. # It is often cheaper and more effective to change the environment than to treat multiple patients within it. # Primary interventions (those aimed at preventing problems before they start) are much more effective than secondary or tertiary interventions (those that treat patients or incipient patients). Community Psychology is division 27 of the American_Psychological_Association, represented by the Society for Community Research & Action (SCRA). Their official description is as follows:

The Division of Community Psychology encourages the development of theory, research, and practice relevant to the reciprocal relationships between individuals and the social system which constitute the community context. The Division supports 23 regional groups promoting communication among community psychologists in six U.S. regions, Canada, Western Europe, and the South Pacific. The Division hosts a three day biennial conference and has formed interest groups in the areas of international community psychology, rural psychology, aging, applied settings, and children and youth (prevention issues). Members receive the bimonthly American Journal of Community Psychology and The Community Psychologist, published five times per year.

Community Psychology found a proposed "conceptual center" in the idea of '''Psychological Sense of Community''' (or simply '''Sense of Community'''), introduced in 1974 by Seymour_Sarason. In 1986 a major step was taken by theoretician David_McMillan and operationalizer David_Chavis 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, communities of interest, etc. ==References== *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. *Sarason, S.B. (1974). ''The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology''. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ==See also== * Crowd_psychology * Mob_mentality * Group_dynamics * Groupthink Category:applied_psychology ==External links== *See Community Psychology: In Pursuit of Well-Being and Liberation edited by Nelson and Prilleltensky (in press, New York: Palgrave Macmillan) for further definitions and fields of work. *Psychology Resources includes information about Community Psychology and related topics.