Hi David
I am replying to you, with the thoughts and words of George Albee fresh in
my mind from his talk in Nottingham. Along with Richard Wilkinson (and
Carolyn Kagan in a previous talk), George advocated trying to bring about a
PUBLIC recognition of psychosocial processes, and to keep going on with this
until people realise, or accept publicly, what the real origins of distress
may be.

If you are looking for 'ways to work with integrity and solidarity with
community members to make a positive difference' I think it would be really
helpful to have something like a SIG (I personally already find the West
Midlans Community and Critical Psychology Interest Group helpful); as a 1st
year clinical psychology trainee, it is very hard to think of, let alone
create, ways of making a positive difference when the dominant model is one
with an 'individualistic bias, one to one intra-psychi treatment default and
collusion with medical model assumptions.'

I agree with what sounds like an ethical stance of the highest order, in
terms of being part of a group,  and your work actively contributing to
change rather than simply talking about it. However, the very fact that you
need to make your point through this forum indicates to me how important it
is for these sorts of ideas to be shared. It also highlights the difficult
balance that needs to be maintained in working in this way. But I really
don't think you should be keeping quiet about it. It things need to change,
people need to make a noise. This was what George Albee was recommending the
other day. He talked about his faith in the power of research (and truth).
He stressed the idea and possibilities of, for example, ridiculing the
pharmaceutical industry, and to keep 'hammering away' to get the attention
of the public.

George also identified the increasing number of undergraduates who may be
receptive to critical and community psychology messages - they have been
brought up in a world where 'there is a drug or pill for firtually
everything.' He also named environmental activists as another 'obvious force
which can be mobilised.'

Finally, I would like to draw to people's attention an article 'Off The
Treadmill: Transfering the system of academic assessment' by Lee-Anne
Broadhead, which appeared in Resurgence Jan/Feb 2003. She mentioned the RAE
in particular, but to give a bit more of a flavour she said: 'My own
experience tells me that the real thrill of research come from finding a
voice in a magazine such as Resurgence. Connecting with a community of
readers which not only shares the basic ethical stance which underlies my
own work, but which is also actively involved in the task of changing the
world, is far more fulfilling than publishing any number of academic
article. Sharing knowledge, information, ideas and even strategies for
change is the real goal of academic research. If we only talk among
ourselves, what is the point?'

I look forward to anyone's comments.
Penny Priest
----- Original Message -----
From: David Fryer <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 10:10 PM
Subject: whose interests . . . continued


> To continue the discussion re. whose interests it would serve to write up
> the work with the mental health expressive arts group I mentioned . ..
>
> The work with young mothers sounds interesting and the points about RAE
and
> publication are relevant for some but neither is really germane to the
point
> I was trying to make. I will try again.
>
> It is precisely serving the interests of clinicians and psychologists
which
> concerns me and which I want to avoid.
>
> This is not just about scepticism of the role and value of clinical
> psychology though my bias is that mainstream clinical psychology with its
> individualistic bias, one to one intra-psychic treatment default and
> collusion with medical model assumptions is part of the problem rather
than
> part of the solution. I wonder if clinical psychology qua clinical
> psychology is compatible with community psychology?
>
> More importantly it seems to me that psychologists, collectively, already
> spend massive amounts of time, effort and resources trying to promote
their
> own interests.
>
> I have for a long time had reservations about setting up a special
interest
> group, section or division of the BPS precisely because of such concerns.
> The last thing we need is yet another type of credentialed middle class
> professional alien called 'community psychologist' to parachute into
> communities.
>
> There are already loads of talking shops and groups to promote the
interests
> of psychologists and such groups usually soon become preoccupied with
their
> own expansion or maintenance and power issues within and between it and
> other bodies.
>
> What I am looking for are not more ways to promote each others' interests
> nor ways to provide new ways of working for clinical psychologists nor a
new
> specialism of community psychologist professionals but ways to work with
> integrity and solidarity with community members to make a positive
> difference. It is just not enough to 'think' that 'hopefully' people we
work
> with will benefit 'at the end of the day'?
>
> Not only do we seldom make a positive difference but we sometimes make
> things worse. Because of this I doubt whether reaching the widest possible
> audience with publications is desirable. Given the oppressive distribution
> of power in out society, whatever we do with whatever intentions can be
used
> to further disadvantage those we work with and for. I have found this with
> my unemployment and mental health work certainly. If our work can be used
as
> a stick to beat the already disadvantaged, perhaps we are better to keep
it
> away from some stakeholders?
>
> To come to the point, now the context is clearer, what interests me in
> working with REACHOUT is to be of assistance to the group to promote their
> effectiveness and thus to be part of a team promoting mental health and
> reducing stigma and stereotype in relation to mental health issues. I want
> to do this without treating members as subjects, participants, clients or
> patients, as a source of data, as case study or as raw material for
articles
> wherever they might be published. I want to use my particular skills as
> others do theirs in the group. Sometimes this might involve research and
> writing skills but the prime interest group here is the group membership
not
> the academy or the profession. Sometimes publishing helps - as in making
> future funding for the group more likely through constructing sources of
> legitimisation beyond the local area. Usually it will serve no purpose
> oither than to distract from the job in hand?
>
> David
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: annie mitchell
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 21/02/2003 11:03
> Subject: Re: research collaboration
>
> Great reply, Wendy, I love your example of writing up more
> locally. But it is hard for "academics" when our
> institutions do not rate that sort of non RAE output and
> tempting to be cynical - a feeling that with academic
> output it is often merely insitutional insitutions whose
> interests are being served, and that the criteria for (most
> academic publications , with JCASP an honourable exception)
> do not necessarily include the sorts of criteria that the
> ppeople who we are trying to serve in the public sector
> would rate (does the work share power, is it participatroy,
> does it challenge inequalities, is it on topics that are
> likely to meake a real difference to peoples' lives etc,
> etc).
> Annie
>
> On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 09:54:01 -0000 "Franks, Wendy -
> Clinical Psychologist"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Interesting work, you describe, David. 'Stirling work' made me
> smile... a
> > double-entendre? But whose interests would it serve to write it up?
> >
> > Well, I think it would serve the interests of people like me, who are
> > working to bring community psychology ideas into our clinical work in
> > practical and meaningful ways. And also the people with whom I work,
> who
> > would hopefully benefit at the end of the day. I think there are
> issues
> > about the best vehicle for dissemination of this work...in academic
> > journals, or somewhere more accessible. Ideally both, so you reach the
> > widest audience. Some work that I was involved with (a group - with a
> mental
> > health promotion agenda - for mothers of young children in an inner
> city
> > estate) was written about in our local press, as a way to promote the
> group
> > locally, and acknowledge the achievements of the women who made it
> happen.
> > The development of the group followed on from my ClinPsyD thesis
> research,
> > so I am also in the process of writing it up to submit for
> publication.
> >
> > Why not write about the wonderful things you are involved in? Where
> else
> > will 'young' psychologists like me find our inspiration?
> >
> > Wendy
> >
> > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
> UK.
> > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website:
> > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML
> > For any problems or queries, contact the list owner at
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Annie Mitchell
> Lecturer in Psychology,
> Clinical Director, Doctorate in Clinical and Community Psychology,
>
> School of Psychology,
> Washington Singer Building,
> University of Exeter,
> Exeter,
> EX4 4QG
>
> Phone 01392 264621 or
> Liz Mears, Programme Administrator 01392 403184
>
> COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the
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