Different Approaches in Critical Psychology - Essay Example

? Essay on Critical Evaluation of 3 – 4 Different Approaches in Critical Psychology By of Introduction Recent times have realized an increased reliance on critical theories by psychologists to establish perspectives on psychology. This latest approaches to psychology criticize the mainstream psychology and attempts to use improved understanding on psychological issues to cause social changes, and to prevent and treat psychopathology (Hepburn, 2003). One advantage of critical psychology over the mainstream/conventional psychology is that the former regards the social classes, groups and challenges that influence peoples’ social, mental and physical well-being quite highly (Fox & Prilleltensky, 1997). This paper explores the various approaches to critical psychology namely, the Critical Value Framework, Social Constructionism, Feminism and Positive Psychology. Social Constructionism The criticism of the weaknesses and unexplained issues with the positivist epistemology and other mainstream approaches to psychology could be cited as the factors that prompted the emergence of critical psychology approaches such as social constructionism. Unlike the positivist approach, which postulates that objects pre-exist knowledge, the social constructionism approach to psychology asserts that both objects and all the knowledge about them are socially constructed. The social constructionism approach to critical psychology thus supports the movement towards a relativist epistemology. According to social constructionism, no single explanation should be rejected or considered useless; instead, every interpretation of knowledge is as valid as any other (Burr, 1995). Social constructionism thus promotes the social construction of reality, events and subjects, further emphasizing that people decide on what to believe. Importantly, social constructionism is rooted in sociology, cultural studies and post-modernism (Gergen, 2008). Feminism Feminism is the other critical approach to psychology that emerged due to the criticism of mainstream psychology. In the mainstream psychology, gender is considered an important categorization in which women are ignored and issues or topics relevant to their lives and needs less attended compared to men’s issues. In fact, little research was carried out on non-feminist emotions, marriage and motherhood since such subjects were viewed as women’s issues. Feminism thus emerged to accord women and girls a high value and worth in the society on their own right, recognising and highlighting their social needs for change. Feminism also sought to challenge certain perceptions that mainstream psychology had created which mismeasured women and portrayed women as having internalized oppression. It was therefore time to bring changes by listening to women’s voices and displacing the sex differences created by the mainstream psychology. The avenues through which the mainstream psychology had mismeasured women that feminism sought to address resulted in low self-esteem, low self-confidence, difficulties in developing self sense and identity and undervaluing of self-effort in women. Feminism psychology thus postulates that women felt inferior due to oppression and that such feelings of inferiority are in reality, not in-built. Central in causing this oppression are not men but women’s own lack of self-esteem. Furthermore, feminism seeks to displace certain fundamental questions on sex differences. In this context, women should never be considered inferior nor should men be considered superior, trends that undermine the importance of the sex differences. In fact, feminism psychology postulates that femininity and masculinity are inherent I everyone. Instead of exploiting sex and gender as differences between men and women, various types of feminism psychology insists that sex/gender should be socially constructed to become a principle upon which social categorization is based (Parker, 2007). Positive Psychology Positive psychology is the other type of critical psychology that has shot into prominence due to its criticism of mainstream psychology. The focuses of positive psychology are to discover, test and understand the factors that prompt people and individual development rather than those that result in defeat or disgrace. To achieve its goals of highlighting the positive forces influencing peoples’ lives, positive psychology addresses the past, present and future in which it focuses on happiness and its flow, optimism, hope, well-being, contentment and satisfaction among other aspects of development in the society (Snyder et al., 2011). It should be noted that positive psychology addresses these factors at both the individual and communal levels and regards human beings as subjected to certain external forces. In other words, this approach to critical psychology believe that human beings are not proactive, creative or self-determining beings; rather, the external forces to which people are exposed determine their level of success. Thus, among the principles of positive psychology is the belief that people’s behaviours are determined by how they perceive the world around them and the meanings they create out of their environment (Hefferon & Boniwell, 2011). From these principles, it may be asserted that positive psychology has strong links with the humanistic approach to psychology. Critical Values Framework Finally, Critical Values Framework is the other type of critical approach to psychology. It is an approach that is divided into domains in which answers to certain fundamental questions are addressed. Among these domains are values for personal, relational and collective wellness. Caring, self-determination and health protection are some of the values emphasized under the domain of personal wellness. In this regard, the critical values framework approach seeks to promote care, empathy and concern for physical and emotional well-being of others in the society (Prilleltensky, 1997). Regarding relational wellness, Critical Values Framework promotes respect for and appreciation of social identities and diversities in the society for a respectful, peaceful co-existence and equality in the society. The Differences among the Approaches to Critical Psychology From the above discussion, it is apparent that social constructionism, feminism, positive and critical values framework approaches are distinct from one another. For instance, while social constructionism postulates that and all the knowledge about them are socially constructed and supports a relativist epistemology, feminism emphasizes the need to socially construct sex/gender issues to promote the rights, freedoms and privileges of women. Feminism further states that femininity and masculinity are innate in everyone and it is the social settings that create the impression that men are superior to women. On the other hand, the positive approach to critical psychology focuses on the influence of the social and environmental factors on the growth of individuals in the society. Human beings are not passive, noncreative or dependent on the external forces around them for success. The critical value framework approach to psychology on the other hand focus on the impacts of social factors on the personal, collective and relational wellness of an individual. Applications of the Approaches to Critical Psychology The co-construction of critical psychology models for training and professional disciplines has been placed to different uses in the contemporary society. The integration of critical psychology theories and practices into psychological models has been exploited for professional and cognitive development in the healthcare and education sectors to handle patients and learners respectively (Gough & McFadden, 2001). In creating contexts in which learners and patients understand and develop psychology and professionals enabled to deconstruct their notions of 'expert knowledge, critical psychology has caused a shift from a position of mainstream psychology to alternative notions of effective reflective psychology (Felluga, 2011). In the process of co-constructing knowledge, alternative methods of learning psychology and treating mental patients have evolved. Conclusion The criticism of mainstream psychological led to the emergence of various approached to critical psychology such as feminism, positive, social construction and critical value framework psychology. While social construction emphasizes the co-existence of objects and knowledge, feminism stresses equality and empowerment for women. Positive psychology on the other hand emphasizes the external forces on human beings while the critical value framework approach considers human domains such as personal, relational and collective wellness. References Burr, V. (1995) An introduction to social constructionism. London: Routledge. (E-book via library services). Felluga, D. F. (2011) Introduction to Psychoanalysis. Retrieved on December 5, 2011 from http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/engl/theory/psychoanalysis/psychintroframes.html. Fox, D., and Prilleltensky, I. (1997) Critical psychology – an introduction. London: Sage Publications. Gergen, K. J. (2008) An invitation to social construction. London: Sage. Gough, B., and McFadden, M. (2001) Critical social psychology: an introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. Hefferon, K., and Boniwell, I. (2011) Positive psychology – theory, research and applications. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Hepburn, A. (2003) An introduction to critical social psychology. London: Sage. Parker, I. (2007) Revolution in psychology: alienation to emancipation. London: Pluto Press. Prilleltensky, I. (1997) Values, Assumptions and Practices: Assessing the Moral Implications of Psychological Discourse and Action. American Psychologist, 52(5), 517. Snyder, C. R. et al. (2011) Positive psychology – the scientific and practical explorations of human strengths, second edition. London: Sage. Read More