Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology

The objective of this course is to convey the knowledge and skills required for identification and analysis of systemic and structural impacts in psychology and mental health.  At the conclusion of this course the successful student will be able to:

1. Explain the historical, theoretical, and methodological bases of Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology, as these contrast with those from mainstream psychology.
2. Analyze and evaluate the ways in which sociopolitical structures, and the complex systems they comprise, impact psychology, mental health and personal wellbeing.
3. Explain how structures and systems such as public policy, institutional behaviors/practices and macrotrends, differentially impact health/wellbeing and social identity groups, and confer privilege or disadvantage.
4. Analyze and evaluate theory, research methods, concepts, and paradigms that do not account for the impact of structural and systemic factors on mental health and on human well-being, and expose students to alternative paradigms or ways of thinking about these factors.
5. Analyze and contrast the systemic and structural approach (e.g., policy, programmatic, or precedence) and the personal responsibility and individualistic approach, and determine their relative strengths and weakness.
6. Apply the results of structural and systemic analyses to inform their knowledge of psychology; explore the practical challenges to assuming a more structural or systemic orientation in the analysis and resolution of mental health and other psychological and social problems.
7. Critically evaluate scholarly research relating to the field of Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology.
8. Create their own authentic sense of what it means to be socially responsible in terms of psychology and mental health.