I work with Vicky and suggested she post to the list - I told her it might
be a place where people who are interested in community psychology and
critical psychology might know of ways of maintaining those interests while
applying for training in and working as a clinical psychologist.
Of course, being critical is not a moral absolute. It is actually a
culturally-specific and historically bounded practice that does not rub up
well with all people in all places at all times (I am thinking here of
certain indigenous populations in Asia, Australasia and elsewhere, where
knowledge from elders is passed down the generations untouched by 'critical
enquiry'). I think that we do need to be critical about being critical (in a
way not intended to elicit a cheap laugh at a conference) by examining where
it came from and where it might be heading and how it is being used. For
example, while shirking away from critical thinking and critical theory can
be in the interests of certain elite groups (as it can render their pratices
and privileges un-examined and unchallenged), assuming that we can be
nothing other than critical can also be used to counter the interests of
non-elite/marginalised groups (as it can leave their heritage and 'values'
un-acknowledged and trampled on) by trying to universalise what is actually
a context-dependent system of beliefs.
p
Paul Duckett
Department of Psychology and Social Change
Manchester Metropolitan University
England
Phone +44 161 247 2552
Fax +44 161 247 6364
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Dawn Darlaston-jones
Sent: 08 October 2008 10:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] CCP? Really?
Hi Rebekah
I'm not sure that the subject line of your response is a beneficial way to
open up dialogue - it suggests a tone of dismissive incredulity related to
CCP that might constrain rather than invite dialogue - I am interpreting it
as an invitation though....
But first a clarification in case any confusion exists - My reply to
Vicky's query was one of confusion between the distinct differences of her
training and her career aspirations it was not a criticism in any way and I
don’t think it was interpreted that way by her. I was seeking clarity while
at the same time identifying a philosophical difference between the two
positions (especially pertinent as she trained at Manchester which is a site
of critical psychology in the UK).
I fully concur with your view that the critical dimension should be an
obvious/automatic part of community psychology - however it is not. This is
especially so in Australia. Critical reflection and critical theory is often
spoken of but is rarely in my view applied and was not evident in my
training (with one all too brief exception). Therefore it has become an
explicitly referenced point of departure in my professional identity in
order to specify which variety of community psychology I subscribe to (your
comment on the fusion between clinical and community practice particularly
in the US emphasises for me the importance of including the critical
dimension when discussing CP in a generic manner). While I acknowledge that
many clinicians works within a similar framework to CP and even CCP and do
meaningful work - this does not remove the fact that the construction of
'mental illness' and 'patients' that leads to and maintains the need to
'clinicians' is in itself problematic. There is also the problem of
definition and how being critical is interpreted. My concern at the seminar
example you mention ('don't let the great become the enemy of the good')
suggests that the end justifies the means and that as long as we are ‘doing
good’ and our decisions/actions are well intentioned it is ok. This is
highly problematic and history as well as clichéd folklore speak to the
inherent dangers of such an approach.
Embracing a critical orientation does not mean that I/we cannot work
within a flawed system to ameliorate the disadvantage caused by that flawed
system while seeking to change that system. Nor does it automatically lead
to inaction due to a fear of being part of the problem. I struggle every day
with the very tensions you identify in my practice as an educator knowing
that higher education reproduces the socially constructed positions of
privilege (my own included) that lead to isolation marginalisation and
oppression. I also recognise that the very same positions are reproduced and
occupied within the higher education system itself and positions students in
negative and oppressive ways – it doesn’t stop me from working critically
within the system to effect change and nor does it prevent me from applying
my values based CCP perspective to my practice – it just opens up more
avenues for debate and discussion and more tensions as I progress in my
journey of development and the “veil of ignorance” is lifted a little higher
and I can see more clearly the harm that is produced by not thinking and
acting critically.
Unfortunately, until such time as psychology in all its iterations
flavours and forms becomes capable of understanding and applying the
concepts of critical theory then the need for this component to be
emphasised remains
Dawn
____________________________________________
Dawn Darlaston-Jones, PhD
Lecturer, Behavioural Science
School of Arts & Sciences
University of Notre Dame
19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
FREMANTLE
Western Australia WA 6160
Tel: +61 8 9433 0567
Fax: +61 8 9433 6073
e-mail [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebekah Pratt
Sent: Wednesday, 8 October 2008 4:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] CCP? Really?
Hi there,
I think any confussion is mostly a matter of context really! In Aus/NZ
(where I trained as a community psycholgist myself) there is a clear
distinction between clincial and community psych, both in teaching and
practice. In the US people often undertake joint community AND clinical
training. Here in the UK, as you know, the group of us called community
psychologists is mostly made up of people who practice clinically and that
influences what CP means here. As for that word critical, and critical
community psychology... it is turning into a bit of a bugbear of mine to
be
honest!
As a community psychologist I try to build on a sense of a values based
community psychology, of which being critical is PART of. I think we
could
reposition the 'critical' perspective to being one of CP's values (as
opposed to being part of a blanket label), one that exists along a range
of
tensions with the many other values. I think the idea of 'critical
community psych' has diffused some of the core identify of community
psychology in the UK (and maybe opened up a debating ground where we try
to
narrow down our range of persepctives as opposed to broadening our debates
to consider a greater variety of positions) I think it is time to find
talk
about how we can be critical as one of our many values, and bring back
other
values into focus (collaboration, diversity, context, practice/praxis)
that
foster respectful interactions which might just make space for growing
knowledge rather than narrowing it down into one dominant view. Any
anyway... isn't the invention of a new discipline, 'CCP' a sort of
patriarchial academic exercise that is more about owning knowledge that
building knowledge?
As critical views are gaining ground I feel we are loosing space to be
able
to talk about our practice as community psychologists through being
constantly positioned as critically problematic. For me, my practice is
mostly in a research setting, for many of our colleagues it is in clinical
settings, but there are unlimited ways in which to practice as a community
psychologist. My practice is imperfect, infused with all the tensions of
having a values based view of community psych (including being critical,
which exists in tension with other values that are just as important to
me)
and tries to make space for 'doing better' rather than rest in a state in
inaction waiting for what is considered critically worthwhile. I was at
a
workshop a few months ago where the speaker said, in response to the way
community interventions often fail to address material distress (one of
our
major concerns), 'don't let the great become the enemy of the good'. I
think I would like to see a more participative space open up that lets us
talk about that idea.
My point of view is probably some strange hybrid of my Aotearoa/New
Zealand
roots and how I've been influenced by being in the UK for a pretty long
time! But I think I would welcome some discussion on where that concept
of
critical fits with us!
Rebekah
___________________________________
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/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
For any problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah Pratt
([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])
___________________________________ 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/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK For any
problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah Pratt
([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])
___________________________________
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/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK
For any problems or queries, contact the list moderators: Rebekah Pratt ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask])
