Community Psychology: Accomplishments and Challenges Comment On the Special Section

Summary

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The Swampscott Conference focused on prevention as its theoretical underpinning, noting that treatment has never eliminated any disease. Later other theoretical frameworks were placed alongside prevention including empowerment (Prilleltensky, 1994; Rappaport, 1981) and cognitive community psychology (O'Neill, 1981). In addition to the clinicians, others also came on board, most significantly those who worked in education and were dissatisfied with the limited role given to psychologists in school settings (see especially [Sarason], 1971). This evolution of theory and practice, especially as it played out in Canada, is well detailed in Nelson and Lavoie (2010).

The Nelson and Lavoie paper on contributions is no mere listing of Canadian community psychologists. It contains much thoughtful analysis of the way in which theory has developed since the early warnings by Sarason, [Reiff], and others that the subdiscipline would need to be anchored to solid ideas. So, for instance, they discuss Prilleltensky' s emphasis on values incorporated in an empowerment/anti-oppression model, the work on social support and social networks by Gottlieb and by Guay, and Lavoie's application of action research to self-help groups.

Another problem is funding training programs in community psychology. Funding sources may be more comfortable with spending money on more specific designations such as clinical psychology or (narrower still) child-clinical psychology. Community-clinical psychologists face difficulties carving out time to do consultation or prevention when they are bombarded by referrals for therapy and assessment (see Cherniss, 1977). Funders may also perceive the priority to be development of traditional clinical skills. Lavoie and Brunson (2010) maintain, with convincing examples, that despite these challenges community psychology - in part because of its breadth - has much to offer as we come to terms with social problems.

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Community Psychology: Accomplishments and Challenges Comment On the Special Section

The role of psychology in public policy has had its ups and downs. On the up side, psychologists have planned interventions and have done research with positive social policy consequences. For instance, their works helped end school segregation in the United States and they were important players in the development of programs such as Head Start (Zigler & Muenchow, 1992). On the down side, psychologists have used their data to support principles of eugenics and theories of accomplishment based on race and gender; they often have contributed to what Ryan (1971) called "blaming the victim," treating social problems as if they were the fault of...

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