Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology
Overview
- Historical, theoretical, and methodological bases of Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology
- Social justice models
- Liberation perspectives
- Postcolonial/postmodern perspectives
- Intersectionality, power, privilege and oppression
- Feminism
- Race, culture and ethnicity
- Sexuality and gender
- Ableism
- Religion
- Capitalism, neoliberalism, and globalization
- Health, mental health, public policy
- Education systems
Methods of instruction for this course will include some or all of the following:
- Lecture
- Audio-visual materials
- Small group discussion
- Problem-based learning
The course evaluation will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
Students may conduct research with human participants as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving human subjects.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
- Small group assignments 10%
- Term project paper 20%
- Term project presentation 10%
- Midterm exams 40%
- Final exam 20%
- TOTAL 100%
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:
- Explain the historical, theoretical, and methodological bases of Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology, as these contrast with those from mainstream psychology.
- Analyze and evaluate the ways in which sociopolitical structures, and the complex systems they comprise, impact psychology, mental health and personal wellbeing.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Critically evaluate scholarly research relating to the field of Sociopolitical and Critical Psychology.
- Create their own authentic sense of what it means to be socially responsible in terms of psychology and mental health.
The reading materials for this course may include a textbook and/or a course package with readings.
Examples of textbooks:
Fox, D., Prilleltensky, I., & Austin, S. (2009). Critical Psychology (2nd Ed.). Sage Publications.
Selected readings may also be assigned by the instructor.
Examples of selected readings:
Prilletensky, I. (1989). Psychology and the status quo. American Psychologist, 44(5), 795-802.
McIntosh, P. (1988) White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.
Requisites
Prerequisites
AND
One of PSYC 2150 or PSYC 2207 or PSYC 2300 or PSYC 2301 or PSYC 2315 or PSYC 2341 or PSYC 2360 or PSYC 2901 or permission of instructor
Corequisites
Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:
- No corequisite courses
Equivalencies
Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:
- No equivalency courses
Course Guidelines
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Course Transfers
These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca
| Institution | Transfer details for PSYC 3339 |
|---|---|
| Alexander College (ALEX) | ALEX PSYC 2XX (3) |
| Athabasca University (AU) | AU SOSC 3XX (3) |
| Capilano University (CAPU) | CAPU PSYC 4XX (3) |
| Coast Mountain College (CMTN) | CMTN PSYC 208 (3) |
| College of New Caledonia (CNC) | CNC PSYC 2XX (3) |
| Coquitlam College (COQU) | COQU PSYC 2XX (3) |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) | KPU PSYC 3XXX (3) |
| LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) | LCV PSY 3XX (3) |
| Northern Lights College (NLC) | NLC PSYC 2XX (3) |
| Okanagan College (OC) | OC PSYC 2XX (3) |
| Quest University (QU) | QU SOC 3306 (4) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | SFU PSYC 3XX (3) |
| Thompson Rivers University (TRU) | TRU PSYC 3XXX (3) |
| University Canada West (UCW) | UCW PSYC 3XX (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) | UBCO PSYO_O 3rd (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) | UBCV PSYC_V 2nd (3) |
| University of Northern BC (UNBC) | UNBC PSYC 3XX (3) |
| University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) | UFV PSYC 3XX (3) |
| Yorkville University (YVU) | YVU GES 3XXX (3) |