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So, if I'm reading you right. The two issues you see a CP section as a strategy for addressing are (in much simplified form): * Promoting practice and critical thinking within the profession (through dissemination and debate) * Equalising opportunities for power and influence (re. CP) amongst members of our community of community psychologists Am I missing the point? Too simplistic? Stephanie -----Original Message----- From: David Fryer [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 31 August 2004 14:23 To: 'Boyle Stephanie (RQ3) BCH '; [log in to unmask] ' Subject: BPS CP section? Dear Stephanie (and all), You might like to know that I have undertaken to facilitate discussion of a session at the Exeter UK Community Psychology conference with the working title of "Where next for CP in the UK?" which would include discussion of the case for, and against, a BPS Community Psychology Section (amongst other related topics). Discussion here on this list would be very appropriate though and also the views of those who cannot be at Exeter could be taken to and considered at Exeter. I think there are very many ways into this issue. Here are three 'families of related ideas' 'for' a BPS CP section from an academic CP's point of view (I realise this is not the only or most important point of view and also think there are reasons against a BPS CP Section but cannot address all those issues here): Firstly, few undergraduates studying in British Psychology Departments get the opportunity to discover study or debate community psychology (CP), or any other critical approach to the discipline, within their studies for their psychology degrees. I doubt CP will be widely engaged with in UK Psychology Depts until it has some BPS 'presence'. Community psychology has been taught as an undergraduate course unit at Stirling for ten years and has withstood several attempts to close it down but is running for the last time this year. One of the reasons given for it being closed down at Stirling is that it is not required for BPS GBR and only those aspects of psychology which are GBR relevant should be taught (to free up time for income earing through research). Of course that reason is just a way to achieve a long wanted result but the existence of a BPS CP section would have helped me contest that. I believe BPS credentialed psychology graduates who have not engaged with CP are likely to be less effective psychologists in theory and practice , are less likely to think about doing more CP (as Masters or PhD students or practioners) and are, to the general detriment, less likely to consider critical cp positions during clinical, educational, health or organsiational psychology training. A CP which is invisible and powerless within the BPS is less likely to be able to influence the development of psychology training and practice within a BPS dominated UK Psychology. Secondly, the European Association of Community Psychology is being launched this summer in Berlin. EACP is the result in part of concerns by ENCP (European Network of Community Psychology) members that their friendship originated organisation was undemocratic, lacking in accountability and in transparency of procedures. EACP aspires to be much more ideologically acceptable. For many years Jim Orford and Dennis Trent and then Paul Duckett were by default the the 'English members of ENCP'. Then David Fryer and Steve McKenna were the 'Scottish members of ENCP. But none of us were in any sense representative of or accountable to other CPs in England or Scotland and more importantly there was no principled way to elect or appoint such reps. A BPS section could be a (not the only) way of introducing more democracy, accountability and transparency into UK CP and thence in European CP. Thirdly, until recently I regarded the the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology as a flawed but potentially important forum for sharing of ideas in CP in the UK (and further afield). That changed when, as some will know, earlier in the year, John Wiley and Sons, who own JCASP, removed Jan Bostock, David Fryer, Annie Mitchell, Jim Orford and David Smail from their Editorial positions. The new Editorial team of JCASP seems to consist only of social psychologists. The issues are complex and the future unclear but my view is that without these community-critical-clinical inclined Editors JCASP will be become increasingly mainstream. My hunch is that a BPS owned CP journal would have less interference in editorial matters than a commercially owned one and that a BPS CP Section (and BPS funded Newsletter) would be the starting point for a BPS CP Division then Journal and thus a formum for publishing discussion about CP Praxis less subject to commercial interference. I have LOTS more to say - including LOTS of reasons against a BPS CP section and from the perspectuves of other interest groups but this email is already too long. It may however keep the ball rolling. David -----Original Message----- From: Boyle Stephanie (RQ3) BCH To: [log in to unmask] Sent: 31/08/2004 13:12 Subject: BPS section I've been thinking about this and would like to ask a question. The idea of forming a section seems to be a solution/strategy for addressing some issue or problem. Perhaps if the goal was clearer it would be easier to work out what the best strategies were (for me, at any rate). So my question is: What is the problem that this solution is intended to resolve? I asked this question at the Birmingham-based Community and Critical Psychology Interest Group meeting last Friday and these were a few of the ideas generated in response: * Legitamising CPD and the work that we do * Making our lives easier * 'Saving the world' * Paradigm shift in the profession Your thoughts? Stephanie This material has been checked by us for computer viruses using InoculateIT and although no virus has been found by us, we cannot guarantee that it is completely free from such problems and we do not accept any liability for loss or damage which may be caused. This communication is intended solely for the addressee and is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. 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Any information, materials, graphics, and/or opinions posted by the Sender are those of the respective Sender and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Trust unless explicitly stated to the contrary. ___________________________________ 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 moderator at [log in to unmask]