Drawing upon the wisdom of experts in the field, this reader-friendly volume explores both foundational competencies and the technical how-to skills needed for engaging in community psychology practice. Each chapter explores a core competency and its application in preventing or amending community problems and issues. With case examples throughout, this text offers a practical introduction to community outreach and intervention in community psychology.
Community Psychology Theory and Practice Jim Orford, University of Exeter, UK Community psychology is a comparatively new area within psychology. Its perspective is that people and their problems can only be understood by considering the social settings and systems of which they are part and with which they interact continuously over time. These include not only micro-systems of family, work and leisure groups, but also higher-order systems from neighbourhood to socio-cultural groups. Community psychology is also about using this understanding to improve people's well-being. It is an applied, practical subject as well as a theoretical one. Community Psychology: Theory and Practice breaks new ground. It is the first such book written by a British psychologist and, unlike previous texts on the subject, it combines material from Britain, the United States and elsewhere. It deals at length with topics such as power and powerlessness, qualitative and case-study research methods, and offers background theory--so important to a new subject--together with reports of research on many practical aspects in community psychology. The book will prove essential reading for practitioners and researchers either oriented towards community psychology or thinking of moving in that direction--this includes psychologists working in any one of a wide range of areas (clinical, educational, forensic, organisational, applied social, etc.); health care workers with an interest in public mental health and prevention; those working in community settings and serving groups such as the mentally ill and psychologically distressed; people with learning difficulties; older people; and people with addiction problems. It will also be a valuable addition to the literature for final year psychology undergraduates and their teachers. From a published review- '. Orford's book is written in a measured, cautious and scholarly style, does not exaggerate what community psychology has actually achieved so far, yet inspires with its vision of what community psychology could become. I used it as a core text for teaching a final year option on community psychology. The undergraduate group was wildly enthusiastic about the book. Indeed, the only complaint, raised equally energetically by the students, was that they had not been given access to such exciting material until the final year. The book is essential reading.' The Psychologist 1993
This book provides a clear organizational scheme that conveys community psychology's unique way of thinking, and engages the readers' imagination and desire to make a difference though a compelling writing style and a variety of pedagogical aids. The book is divided into two main sections: guiding principles, which anchor community psychologists to a coherent set of fundamental values, and orienting concepts, that allow us to remain open to paradigm-shaking perspectives. It explores the past, present, and future of community psychology, balancing reviews of classic work, descriptions of the current state of the field, and emerging perspectives. Not intended as a definitive attempt to cover the field, but as an invitation to readers to discover the field and make it their own, the book draws readers into a dialogue about community psychology that continues after the last word of the book is read. Community Psychology: Where It Came From and What It Is; Community Psychologists: Who We Are and What We Do; The Importance of Values; Beyond the Individual Level; Appreciating Diversity; Embracing Social Change; Strengths Perspective; Stress and Coping; Prevention; Empowerment; Resilience; Community Psychology in the 21 Century.
This introduction to community psychology is the culmination of extensive research, and takes a look at the contribution of psychology up to this point in South Africa's democracy. It also looks at the theories and practices of community psychology in other countries such as Australia and the United States.
In this book the authors present additional personal and community narratives and extended examples to enliven their writing. They have also expanded their coverage of social policy research and advocacy, interdisciplinary perspectives on communities (e.g. the concept of social capital), and interventions to enhance neighborhood and community life. They portray community psychology as now more international, more attentive to human diversity, and more attuned to the nuances of social and cultural contexts than ever before. They provide narratives illustrating how ordinary citizens working together have transformed their communities and engaged in social change.
Interest in community psychology, and its potential has grown in parallel with changes in welfare and governmental priorities. Critical Community Psychology provide 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
The text covers the history of community mental health and shows its relationships to social welfare policies and legal and political systems. It also shows the limits inherent in the medical model of practice in dealing with such a full range of formal mental health problems, including the everyday stressful life events that make up the "Soap Opera" life.
Drawing upon the wisdom of experts in the field, this reader-friendly volume of Community Psychology edited by Victoria Scott and Susan Wolfe explores both foundational competencies and the technical how-to skills needed for engaging in community psychology practice. Each chapter explores a core competency and its application in preventing or amending community problems and issues. With case examples throughout, this book offers a practical introduction to community outreach and intervention in community psychology.
Book & CD. "Community Psychology" contains a rich diversity of insights and critical debates on the key theoretical, analytic, teaching, learning and action approaches in community psychology. The book offers an incisive examination of a range of contextual factors that influence the practice of community psychology in South Africa
"Community psychology is a comparatively new area within psychology. Its perspective is that people and their problems can only be understood by considering the social settings and systems of which they are part and with which they interact continuously over time. These include not only micro-systems of family, work and leisure groups, but also higher-order systems from neighbourhood to socio-cultural groups. Community psychology is also about using this understanding to improve people's well-being. It is an applied, practical subject as well as a theoretical one.. [this work] deals at length with topics such as power and powerlessness, qualitative and case-study research methods, and offers background theory ... together with reports of research on many practical aspects in community psychology"--Back cover
