Time Schedule:
John Eric Stewart
BIS 343
Bothell Campus
Examines the historical foundations, theory, methods, and practice that constitute the interdisciplinary field of community psychology. Students build upon an existing empirical knowledge base, including effective modes of community intervention, and examine the relevance of community psychology for addressing social problem.
Class description
Community psychology is an applied field of psychology. It is ecological and preventive in its orientation to research and action. Community psychology: (1) Examines mental health and psychological/social dysfunction as functions of the transactional and developmental relationships between persons and environments. (2) Develops, applies and evaluates social and community intervention approaches targeted toward developing personal and collective strengths/competencies and/or preventing disorders/social problems for those people and communities “at risk” for problems, or that lack resources/options for developing or exercising competencies and control. (3) Generates a knowledge base and critical theoretical discourse that reflects and reflects on our socio-cultural “embedded-ness” and is not just sensitive to, but aims to capitalize on, diversity within and across communities.
Class Description: This course will introduce you to the goals, methods, and theories of Community Psychology. Many of the ideas and strategies covered may seem unusual for psychology because the focus is on person-environment interactions, including interactions with particular settings (e.g., schools), communities, and with the socio-cultural environment. Put another way, there is an assumption that “personal” problems are often not understandable apart from, and sometimes may be the result of, environmental factors or person-environment mismatch. Other important concepts include prevention, empowerment, social change and a strengths perspective (instead of an emphasis on deficits or a problem-focus). The focus is reciprocal in nature. That is, we will examine the implications of engagement with communities and problems for the knowledge base and methodology of clinical and community psychology. But, further, we will explore the utility of the field’s conceptual tools for understanding and being useful to communities. Exploration of topics will take the form of theoretical and empirical readings, lecture, class discussion, and the opportunity for fieldwork.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Lecture, class discussion, small group analysis, and project-based learning.
Recommended preparation
Some background in social science (e.g., Intro Sociology or Psych, Developmental Psych) or social theory is strongly recommended, but not required. Education, business, health or policy studies would also be highly relevant.
Class assignments and grading
Grades are based on the quality of engagement as reflected in: short critical response papers; 2 exams; group work; and/or community participation projects.
