Community Psychology Overview

Factors that determine who experiences homelessness, but not the total number of available housing options.

Focuses on individual characteristics and behaviors as the primary driver for societal problems.

Views societal problems as stemming from systemic issues, not just individual flaws.

The explanation we formulate for a social issue, which shapes how we approach it.

Characteristics or behaviors of a single person. Examples are treating mental illnesses or job-interview skills.

Programs intended to solve societal problems by changing the individual.

A field of study that examines societal problems, like homelessness, through an ecological perspective.

Problems stemming from larger societal factors, instead of individual flaws.

Altering, rearranging, or replacing individual members of a group without addressing the structural issues that are the root cause of the problem.

Resolving a problem by changing relationships within a community, which includes shared resources.

A viewpoint that considers how broader societal factors (e.g., poverty, discrimination) impact individuals' lives.

A cultural tradition emphasizing personal responsibility and individual effort as the primary drivers of success.

A study that examined the link between urban structural changes (immigration, industrialization) and juvenile delinquency rates in Chicago neighborhoods.

Youthful behavior deemed illegal or anti-social.

Broad societal factors that influence the actions and behaviors of individuals.

Addressing only symptoms rather than root causes of homelessness maintains the problem.

Understanding the relationships within a group—important for addressing challenges.

Collective objectives and responsibilities within a group.

The distribution of influence and authority within a group.

Critique often focuses on individuals (teachers, students) rather than systemic issues (roles, policies).

Changing individuals but not the systems that influence them won't solve fundamental issues in a system (like schools or communities).

A small, immediate social setting like family, school, or workplace.

A larger, structured group with roles, rules, and often a formal hierarchy.

A group of residents working together to improve their neighborhood.

A group of organizations or individuals collaborating for a shared goal.

A way of understanding how individuals and settings interact within a larger social context.

The levels of authority and responsibility within an organization.

The unwritten rules, norms, and values that influence behavior within an organization.

A group of people connected by shared goals, interests, or activities.

Focusing on the wrong level of analysis when addressing a problem. For example, addressing homelessness by only targeting individual behaviors like panhandling, without addressing the root causes like lack of affordable housing.

Examining a problem from different perspectives, including individual, social, and environmental factors. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding and effective interventions.

The underlying factors contributing to homelessness, which may include lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, and systemic poverty.

Actions or traits exhibited by a single person, such as panhandling or loitering.

An action taken to address a problem that doesn't achieve the desired outcome.

An action taken that addresses a problem at its core, leading to positive change.

Understanding and addressing social problems by examining interconnected factors at various levels of analysis, from individual behaviors to systemic issues.

Interventions often fail because they focus on superficial behaviors or don't address the root causes of the problem.

Deeply held beliefs about what is right, good, and moral that influence how people understand and address social issues.

Values shape how we understand problems, the approaches we use, and who gets involved in addressing those problems.

A research project where Black men were denied treatment even when available, exposing the harmful impact of unethical research practices driven by values.

Community psychology emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing social issues through a lens of core values.

Community psychology emphasizes the need to prioritize the wellbeing of individuals and communities, ensuring ethical research and intervention practices.

Community psychology aims to promote positive change through collaboration, empowerment, and social justice, guided by core values.