Chapter 1 Flashcards
(31 cards)
Define - Critical Psychology
It is more of an approach than a theory. Meaning that it is a sort of orientation towards psychological knowledge and practice, as well as relations of power in general.
- it questions the contributions psychology has made.
- it cuts across various sub-disciplines of psychology.
- it is made up of diverse theoretical perspectives.
What are the 3 points of focus in CP and explain?
Theory (theoretical resources) = Evaluates theories within psychology and the implications of assumptions help by these theories.
Context (questions South African context) = Focus on what general psychological knowledge means in our context e.g. IQ.
Practice (forms of practice) = How we can use these theories to respond to issues “we” experience.
What is the first theme/problematics in CP?
Psychology and power itself.
CP is an investigation of the relationship between power and psychology.
What is the relationship between power and psychology?
Psychology ITSELF is powerful. It plays a role in maintaining and extending existing relations of power. It is often used as a political tool or an instrument of power.
What is meant by “Psychology is used as a political tool”?
Here politics does not simply reference the government of state, but rather relations of power/relations of control.
What is CP concerned with? (2)
It is concerned with BOTH critiquing oppressive uses of psychology AND with disrupting imbalances of power.
In what 2 ways can the power of psychology be used?
1- to oppress others.
2- to enable transformation.
In what forms is psychology ALWAYS POWERFUL?
In the form of KNOWLEDGE and in the form of PRACTICE. This always gives rise to relationships of power.
What is at the heart 💙 of CP?
The realisation that psychology is not a “neutral science” - an objective way of viewing the world, unbiased.
What is the second theme/problematics within CP?
The awareness that psychology functions in ideological ways which have largely gone unexamined.
Define IDEOLOGY.
The ways meaning serves to create and sustain relations of power and domination.
What are 2 ways of addressing the issue of ideology in psychology?
1- Critical dimension = interrogates psychology as a particular politics of knowledge.
2- Substantive dimension = examines the theoretical and formal constitution of the subject of psychological theory and research (politics of subjectivity).
What is the third theme/problematics in CP?
A politics of knowledge and subjectivity.
What has psychology effectively isolated?
Isolated the individual form the social sphere, psychological from political.
What are the implications of addressing the issues of ideology?
- psychology does produce ideologically loaded views of the world.
- psychology does produce powerful effects on its subjects.
Name 2 processes psychology uses to isolate the individual from the social.
1- prioritisation = individual over social.
2- division = separation of social and individual.
What is the fourth theme/problematic of CP?
An awareness of the fact that psychological knowledge operates to extend relations of power.
Is psychological knowledge universal?
NO.
Explain knowledge produced by psychology.
Psychological knowledge is not a neutral reflection of the world IS, but rather knowledge produced by certain groups, in certain ways, for certain interests.
What questions should we ask when facing psychological knowledge?
Who is producing PK?
For whom is this knowledge produced?
How is it produced?
For what is it produced?
What is imperialism of Western psychology/ psychological imperialism?
How knowledge produced in the “first world” is generalised and applied to non-Western settings.
This leads to psychological knowledge being exclusionary.
What is the fifth theme/problematics of CP?
How psychology impacts our identities, how it plays a role in making us who we are.
CP looks at how psychology locks us into descriptions of who we are, and how those description reinforces patterns of social power.
How does psychology influence how we view OURSELVES?
It provides us with the perimeters of what is ”normal” and “abnormal”. It also informs us on topics such as the self and sexuality.
What is the sixth theme/problematic of CP?
The necessity to use psychology as a form of politics.
