Critical Community Psychology

Interest in community psychology, and its potential has grown in parallel with changes in welfare and governmental priorities. "At last, an exciting new textbook on community psychology that is informed by contemporary debates within critical psychology. It provides a refreshing and well-written overview of both theoretical and practical issues around psychological work in a range of community settings. Filled with examples and reflections on practice drawn from years of experience, the book is a modern handbook for community scholar-activists." Michael Murray, Professor of Social & Health Psychology, Keele University "Psychology – and psychologists – are all too often disengaged from the very real challenges facing modern societies. This book provides a timely and powerful nudge to contribute our various skills and approaches to improve and enhance local and global communities. It deserves to be widely read by students and professionals alike." Roger Ingham, Professor of Health and Community Psychology, University of Southampton "This important new book encapsulates an enormous range of helpful concepts and practical tools within the field of community psychology that link local action with more ambitious social and political change. It draws on a wealth of shared experience in critical community psychology praxis and is an essential resource for all community based professionals working with excluded or marginalised communities." Steve Melluish, University of Leicester Community psychology is continuously developing in various parts of the world. Interest in community psychology, and its potential as a distinct approach, is growing and evolving in parallel with social development, changes in welfare and governmental priorities. Critical Community Psychology is the work of a group of academic community psychologists with many years of experience working, teaching and thinking together. They have developed a clear and effective method for bringing together the theory and practice of community psychology, which has become firmly grounded in time and place. This book aims to provide students of different community-based professions, working in a range of applied settings, with not only the theories, values and principles of community psychology, but also with the practical guidance that will underpin their community psychological work. Highlights include: Clear learning objectives, highlighting the theoretical content, research issues and practice dilemmas to be covered. Case examples of community psychology in action, including critical questions to encourage reflection and reflexivity on the part of the reader. Activity questions focusing on both theoretical and practical issues to be used as both class exercises and independent study. A distinctive approach that questions many of the assumptions and approaches of mainstream psychological approaches. This book would be attractive to undergraduate and postgraduate students and practitioners of community psychology world-wide, as well as students and practitioners of other forms of applied or professional psychology and different community practices. Additional resources for instructors are available at Interest in community psychology, and its potential has grown in parallel with changes in welfare and governmental priorities. Critical Community Psychology provides students of different community based professions, working in a range of applied settings, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a text which will underpin their community psychological work. Key Features: · Clear learning objectives and chapter contents outlined at the start of each chapter. · Key terms highlighted with definitions, either as marginal notes or in chapter glossaries. · Case examples of community psychology in action. · Each chapter ends with a critical assessment section . · Discussion points and ideas for exercises that can be undertaken by the reader, in order to extend critical understanding. · Lists of further resources - e.g. reading, film, electronic. · Authors are members of the largest community psychology departmental team in Europe.