Dear Diana,

We just had today our local meeting of the southwest community psychology 
network ( 8 of us in all; clinical psychologists outnumbered by people with 
other expertises and resources)where we discussed some of the issues that 
we have been following on the discussion list. We are fortunate in having a 
space where we can  talk and meet face to face - so different from typing 
away at a computer.

One of the things we are pre-occupied with is connections between community 
psychology and ecological sustainability and were reminded about the 
sustainability motto: think global, act local.

Annie


--On 02 December 2005 10:19 +0800 Diane Costello <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:

>
>
> Hi everyone who has been contributing to these discussions
>
>
>
> I have been reading with awe the multiple perspectives on the various
> issues that have been discussed and I needed to respond to Mark's
> thoughts about the term 'critical' and how I applying it in teaching
> undergrads how to step outside the hedgemonic frame of reference.  Here
> at Notre Dame we teach Behavioural Science and as we are not regulated by
> the APS we can teach psychology from a community and critical
> perspective.
>
>
>
> As a lecturer in a catholic university however, it is sometimes very
> difficult to know how far one can go without compromising one's
> employment status particularly when discussing issues such as gay and
> lesbian rights that go against church teachings.  While I never intend to
> compromise my commitment to human rights and social justice I am very
> aware that students need to explore in a safe way psychology's
> contribution to the status quo and that human problems require complex
> solutions that go outside individualist interventions.
>
>
>
> While I feel fairly confident that my aim is to encourage students to
> think about the link between psychology as a force in society and its
> contribution [or lack of] to social issues I do feel that more guidance
> and leadership in the field is needed to work against the tirade of
> conservative policies particularly here in Australia (e.g. oppressive
> Industrial Relations reforms and Terrorism and sedition Laws eating away
> our democratic rights).
>
>
>
> I believe that while I can comfortably examine the issues from a critical
> perspective with my students I am then left with what now -- how can we
> as a group of critical/community psychologist pursue global social action
> from within the field. I would like to go from rhetoric to action sooner
> rather than later...
>
> Your thoughts please!
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Diane
>
> ----------------
>
>
>
> Diane Costello Assoc MAPS
>
> Lecturer
>
> School of Behavioural Science
>
> College of Arts
>
> The University of Notre Dame Australia
>
> 19 Mouat Street (PO Box 1225)
>
> Fremantle, Western Australia 6959
>
> Tel: +61 8 9433 0867
>
> Fax: +61 8 9433 0210
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Internet: www.nd.edu.au
>
> CRICOS code: 01032F
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
>
> From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Burton
> Sent: Friday, 2 December 2005 5:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] on being critical
>
>
>
> Being critical?
>
>
>
> The term 'critical' as currently used to prefix various disciplines
> (including community psychology!) has multiple origins, but perhaps the
> most significant one is from its use in 'critical theory'.  This itself
> refers to several things - in some contexts it was used as code for
> Marxism, or rather for historical materialist analysis.  It became best
> known in referring to the Frankfurt School of Marxist intellectuals
> concerned with questions of culture and its relation to society - e.g.
> Adorno, Horkheimer, Fromm, Habermas.  What is being meant by the term
> 'critical' is an approach that tries to understand a social reality
> through introduction of another, more penetrating frame of reference, one
> that has to do with a general theory of human society (or at least late
> capitalist society) understood in terms of contradictions between
> different social interests and economic processes of exploitation,
> capital accumulation, and so on.  So these critical theorists apply a
> powerful set of practical-theoretical tools to social phenomena to try
> and get a more thorough understanding that can help foment progressive
> social change.  Not very post-modern, and there are some rules implied.
>
>
>
> Another use of 'critical', however, seems to come from the lay notion of
> the 'critic'.  At its worst (and most post- modern) that can mean 'say
> what you like', and 'pose around as the most critical voice of all'.
> There is no method, just individual opinion.  The process is destructive
> not constructive.  It is part of the 'society of the spectacle', of
> consumerism, of capitalism itself.
>
>
>
> Here I've set up two ideal types, with a clear bias as to the one that
> I'm more comfortable with, and why.  The idea is to use the two models to
> evaluate contributions that march under the critical banner.
>
>
>
> So if you want to convince me that you are being critical in the best
> sense, I'll be asking
>
> "Is your analysis one that requires stepping outside the hegemonic frame
> of reference of this society and its dominant psychology?"
>
> "Where is your argument taking us and in whose interests are you doing it
> in?"
>
> "What's the action - and what's your action?"
>
> and
>
> "Are you doing this in a comradely way?"
>
>
>
> --
>
> 37 Chandos Rd South
>
> Manchester
>
> M21 0TH
>
> UK
>
> 0161 881 6887
>
> Local rate phone no:  0845 458 1165
>
> Fax no:  0870 751 5595
>
> [log in to unmask] ___________________________________
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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

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