This paper introduces the theoretical concept, problematization, as it is developed in Foucauldian-inspired poststructural analysis. The objective is two-fold: first, to show how a study of problematizations politicizes taken-for-granted “truths”; and second, to illustrate how this analytic approach opens up novel ways of approaching the study of public policy, politics and comparative politics. The study of problematizations, it suggests, directs attention to the heterogenous strategic relations – the politics – that shape lives. It simultaneously alerts researchers to their unavoidable participation in these relations, opening up a much-needed conversation about the role of theory in politics.

/pdf/why-study-problematizations-making-politics-visible-zt7jvoke1j.pdf

Why Study Problematizations? Making Politics Visible

In this chapter, the authors consider Paulo Freire's construct of critical consciousness (CC) and why it deserves more attention in research and discourse on youth political and civic development. His approach to education and similar ideas by other scholars of liberation aims to foster a critical analysis of society—and one's status within it—using egalitarian, empowering, and interactive methods. The aim is social change as well as learning, which makes these ideas especially relevant to the structural injustice faced by marginalized youth. From their review of these ideas, the authors derive three core CC components: critical reflection, political efficacy, and critical action. They highlight promising research related to these constructs and innovative applied work including youth action-research methodology. Their conclusion offers ideas for closing some of the critical gaps in CC theory and research. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Critical consciousness: current status and future directions.

The power to promote wellness, resist oppression, and foster liberation is grounded in psychological and political dynamics. Hitherto, these two sources of power have been treated in isolation, both for descriptive and prescriptive purposes. As a result, we lack an integrative theory that explains the role of power in promoting human welfare and preventing suffering, and we lack a framework for combining psychological and political power for the purpose of social change. In this article, the author puts forth a psychopolitical conceptualization of power, wellness, oppression, and liberation. Furthermore, he introduces the concept of psychopolitical validity, which is designed to help community psychologists to put power issues at the forefront of research and action. Two types of psychopolitical validity are introduced: type I—epistemic, and type II—transformative. Whereas the former demands that psychological and political power be incorporated into community psychology studies; the latter requires that interventions move beyond ameliorative efforts and towards structural change. & 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The role of power in wellness, oppression, and liberation: the promise of psychopolitical validity

Identity politics: Challenges to psychology's understanding.

I argue that distinct conditions of justice lead to diverse wellness outcomes through a series of psychosocial processes. Optimal conditions of justice, suboptimal conditions of justice, vulnerable conditions of injustice, and persisting conditions of injustice lead to thriving, coping, confronting, and suffering, respectively. The processes that mediate between optimal conditions of justice and thriving include the promotion of responsive conditions, the prevention of threats, individual pursuit, and avoidance of comparisons. The mechanisms that mediate between suboptimal conditions of justice and coping include resilience, adaptation, compensation, and downward comparisons. Critical experiences, critical consciousness, critical action, and righteous comparisons mediate between vulnerable conditions of injustice and confrontation with the system. Oppression, internalization, helplessness, and upward comparisons mediate between persisting conditions of injustice and suffering. These psychosocial processes operate within and across personal, interpersonal, organizational and community contexts. Different types of justice are hypothesized to influence well-being within each context. Intrapersonal injustice operates at the personal level, whereas distributive, procedural, relational, and developmental justice impact interpersonal well-being. At the organizational level, distributive, procedural, relational and informational justice influence well-being. Finally, at the community level, distributive, procedural, retributive, and cultural justice support community wellness. Data from a variety of sources support the suggested connections between justice and well-being.

Wellness as Fairness

http://saber.ucv.ve/bitstream/123456789/4081/1/montero-introduccion-a-la-psicologia-comunitaria.pdf

Introducción a la psicología comunitaria. Desarrollo, conceptos y procesos

The origins and development of the psychology of liberation are described, detailing the intellectual and political context in which the concept of liberation emerged in Latin American social sciences. Its constitution as a mode of doing psychology, and the founding ideas of Ignacio Martin Baro, its pioneer, are analyzed. Primary concepts such as problematization, de-ideologization, and de-alienation are discussed, and I explain how they are integrated into a central process characterized as conscientization. The role of relatedness as an epistemological base for knowledge construction and liberation is highlighted. The dynamics in which these processes interact in order to facilitate and catalyze the transformation of negative living conditions through participatory action and reflection, to empower people so they become conscious citizens, and to strengthening civil society and democracy is also discussed. I argue that the ethical, critical, and political character of the liberating actions respond for the participatory, reflexive, and transformative conception of this form of psychology.

The Political Psychology of Liberation: From Politics to Ethics and Back

/pdf/la-psicologia-comunitaria-origenes-principios-y-fundamentos-55w2ntlhgs.pdf

La psicología comunitaria : orígenes, principios y fundamentos teóricos

Introduction: The diversity of CP internationally Stephanie M. Reich, Manuel Riemer, Isaac Prilleltensky, and Maritza Montero The Americas Chapter 1: The History and Theories of Community Psychology in Canada Geoffrey Nelson, Francine Lavoie, and Terry Mitchell Chapter 2: History and Theory of Community Psychology: An International Perspective of Community Psychology in the US: Returning to Political, Critical and Ecological Roots Holly L. Angelique and Marci R. Culley Chapter 3: Latin American Community Psychology: Development, Implications, and Challenges within a Social Change Agenda Maritza Montero and Nelson Varas Diaz Chapter 4: Community Psychology in the River Plate Region (Argentina-Uruguay) Enrique Saforcada, Victor Giorgi, Antonio Lapalma, Alicia Rodriguez, Ana Gloria Ferullo, Susana Rudolf, and Saul Fuks Asia-Pacific Chapter 5: So far and yet so near? Community Psychology in Australia Heather Gridley and Lauren Breen Chapter 6: Community Psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Me tiro whakamuri a kia hangai whakamua Neville Robertson & Bridgette Masters-Awatere Chapter 7: Historical and Theoretical Orientations of Community Psychology Practice and Research in Japan Toshiaki Sasao and Tomoyuki Yasuda Chapter 8: History and Theory of Community Psychology: An international perspective Sangeeta Bhatia and Nandini Sethi Chapter 9: Community Psychology in a Borrowed Place With Borrowed Time:The Case of Hong Kong Sheung-Tak Cheng and Winnie W.S. Mak Europe and Middle East Chapter 10: Community Psychology in Britain Mark Burton, Stephanie Boyle, Carl Harris, and Carolyn Kagan Chapter 11: Community Psychology between Attitude and Clinical Practice - the German Way Jarg Bergold and MikeSeckinger Chapter 12: Community Psychology in Italy: Past Developments and Future Perspectives Donata Francescato, Caterina Arcidiacono, Cinzia Albanesi and Terri Mannarini Chapter 13: Community psychology in a Scandinavian welfare society: The case of Norway Erik Carlquist, Hilde Eileen Nafstad and Rolv Mikkel Blakar Chapter 14: Community Psychology in Spain: Realities, expectations and desires Antonio Martin and Jorge S. Lopez Chapter 15: Community psychology in Portugal: From 'revolution' to empowered citizenship Isabel Menezes, Pedro M. Teixeira and Mariana Fidalgo Chapter 16: Community Psychology in Israel Amiram Raviv, Mira Zeira, and Keren Sharvit Chapter 17: Community Psychology in Poland Anna Bokszczanin, Krzysztof Kaniasty, and Malgorzata Szarzynska Chapter 18: Moving but not Yet Talking: Community Psychology in Turkey Serdar M. Degirmencioglu Chapter 19: Community Psychology Initiatives in Greece Sofia Triliva and Athanassios Marvakis Africa Chapter 20: Community Psychology in South Africa Arvin Bhana, Inge Petersen, and Tamsen Rochat Chapter 21: The Roots of Community Psychology in Cameroon A. Bame Nsamenang, Francis Nkwenti Fru, and Melissa Asma Browne Chapter 22: History of Community Psychology in Ghana Charity S. Akotia and Kofi B. Barimah Conclusion: History and Theories of Community Psychology around the Globe Stephanie M. Reich, Manuel Riemer, Isaac Prilleltensky, and Maritza Montero

International community psychology : history and theories

Que es la psicologia comunitaria esta pregunta, tan aparentemente sencilla, recibe de la mano de Maritza Montero un rico y exhaustivo desarrollo que le permite desplegar los conceptos fundamentales que conforman la base de esta disciplina. describe el estado de cosas en la psicologia comunitaria, la historia de la disciplina y sus principales problemas. Con exquisita perspicacia, ella discierne los roles de la psicologia comunitaria en su ayuda a los oprimidos y en su movilizacion de la sociedad en general hacia un mayor bienestar. En este prologo deseo partir de su vision de la psicologia comunitaria y proyectar el campo hacia un enfoque renovado del bienestar y de la justicia. Para hacerlo, discuto la centralidad del bienestar dentro de la sociedad buena y la centralidad del poder en el marco de la validez psicopolitica.

Maritza Montero

Papers

Introducción a la psicología comunitaria. Desarrollo, conceptos y procesos

The Political Psychology of Liberation: From Politics to Ethics and Back

La psicología comunitaria : orígenes, principios y fundamentos teóricos

International community psychology : history and theories

Introducción a la psicología comunitaria