Community psychology: Values and aims towards social transformation.

As we have established during our first term, community psychology has a particular
focus on social problems. Community psychologists are concerned with the issues and
problems facing disadvantaged people, which have deep historical roots. The journeys of
disadvantaged people tell a tale of pain and suffering, dislocation and colonization,
oppression, and marginalization. Society has constructed stories about disadvantaged people,
making them into something different from you and me. Hence, one could argue that this
branch of psychology’s main objective is to transform all of those structural causes that
contribute to these social realities’ perpetuation.
To do so, community psychology (CP) parts ways from mainstream psychology and
develops a new set of practices, values, and principles. Although reality continually presents
several challenges for implementing these values on intervention processes, community
psychologists mustn’t lose sight of them during their professional exercise. For that reason,
we propose the next activity.
Phase one: reflection and characterization of a vulnerable community in Colombia.
1. Think of a vulnerable community in Colombia
a. Characterize it. Think of the members and their current social,
economic, health, political, etc., situation.
b. What are the stigmas surrounding these communities?
c. What other social groups can we identify within these communities?
d. As a society, do we know what these communities need or want?
Phases two and three: Application of community psychology values in a social
intervention
2. Check chapter two (2) of the book: Community Psychology. In Pursuit of
liberation and well-being. By Nelson, G., & Prilleltensky, I. (2010).
3. Look for the following values and principles of CP.
a. Values: holism, health, caring, compassion, and support for community
structures, self-determination, participation, social justice, respect for
diversity, and accountability to oppressed groups.
b. Principles: Ecology, prevention and promotion, community, power,
inclusion, commitment, and depowerment.
4. Define them. Feel free to use textual citations, although personal definitions
are encouraged.
 5. Since our second term’s project is developing a campaign against social
stigma, think of a concrete and straightforward proposal for the intervention
on your selected community’s social stigma that articulates with each value
and principle.
6. Consolidate your answers in the following tables.
Table 1: Characterization of a vulnerable community

Name/type of the community

Location:

Stigmas (just concrete words or terms, no

need for elaboration):

Provide a brief characterization of the community, the social groups within it, and
their needs (150 words max)

Table 2. Values, principles, and intervention points.

Values Definition Example of intervention

based on the value/
principle

Holism

Health

Caring, compassion, and

support for community
structures

Self-determination

Participation

Social justice

Respect for diversity

Accountability to oppressed
groups
 Principles

Ecology

Prevention and promotion

Community

Power

Inclusion

Commitment and
depowerment.