Psychopolitical Validity:Psychopolitical Validity:Working with Power to Working with Power to

Promote Justice and Well-Promote Justice and Well-BeingBeing

Isaac Isaac Prilleltensky@Vanderbilt.EduPrilleltensky@Vanderbilt.EduFirst International Conference on Community First International Conference on Community

Psychology: Puerto RicoPsychology: Puerto Ricohttp://people.vanderbilt.edu/~isaac.prilleltenskyhttp://people.vanderbilt.edu/~isaac.prilleltensky

““We cannot explain the development of We cannot explain the development of individuality or subjectivity apart from its individuality or subjectivity apart from its social context. But neither can we formulate a social context. But neither can we formulate a social theory to explain the dynamics of social theory to explain the dynamics of oppression without considering its psychic oppression without considering its psychic dimension. We need a theory that operates dimension. We need a theory that operates between the psyche and the social” (Oliver, between the psyche and the social” (Oliver, 2004, 2004, The Colonization of Psychic Space).The Colonization of Psychic Space).

Elements of a Social Theory of Elements of a Social Theory of Justice and Well-BeingJustice and Well-Being

1.1. Link between the political and the Link between the political and the psychologicalpsychological

2.2. Link between values and interestsLink between values and interests

3.3. Link between the epistemic and the ethical Link between the epistemic and the ethical domainsdomains

4.4. Power as a central component of links 1, 2, Power as a central component of links 1, 2, and 3 aboveand 3 above

Epistemic DialecticEpistemic Dialectic

Psychological Forces

Political Forces

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Ethical DialecticEthical Dialectic

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Power at the intersection of epistemic and ethical dialecticsPower at the intersection of epistemic and ethical dialectics

Psychological Forces

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Elements of Well-Being and JusticeElements of Well-Being and Justice

Well-Being consists of the synergy of Well-Being consists of the synergy of PersonalPersonal RelationalRelational Collective domainsCollective domains

Justice consists of contextual considerations Justice consists of contextual considerations of of

NeedsNeeds MeritMerit EqualityEquality

The Synergy of Well-beingThe Synergy of Well-being

There cannot be well-being but in the There cannot be well-being but in the combined presence of personal, relational, combined presence of personal, relational, and collective well-beingand collective well-being

Complementary Principles of Complementary Principles of JusticeJustice

The Role of Context in JusticeThe Role of Context in Justice

The principle chosen depends on the The principle chosen depends on the circumstances:circumstances:

If equality prevails, merit and effort are rational If equality prevails, merit and effort are rational choices.choices.

If inequality prevails, needs and equality take If inequality prevails, needs and equality take precedence:precedence:

““Among citizens, certain needs matter from the Among citizens, certain needs matter from the point of view of justice because if they are not point of view of justice because if they are not met, the equal status of some citizens is put at met, the equal status of some citizens is put at risk” (Miller, 1999, p. 32).risk” (Miller, 1999, p. 32).

Justice Out of ContextJustice Out of Context

Societies aspiring to justice must seek Societies aspiring to justice must seek equilibrium among needs, merit, and equality.equilibrium among needs, merit, and equality.

When context of inequality calls for need and When context of inequality calls for need and equality, but culture favors merit, it’s because equality, but culture favors merit, it’s because privileged groups benefit.privileged groups benefit.

As a result, group interests that influence the As a result, group interests that influence the choice of allocation pattern often disregard the choice of allocation pattern often disregard the context-specific situation.context-specific situation.

Well-Being Well-Being Justice Justice

Well-BeingWell-Being is is enhanced by enhanced by

JusticeJustice is enhanced, and contributes to is enhanced, and contributes to well-being, by the power, capacity, and well-being, by the power, capacity, and opportunity toopportunity to

Self-Self-determinationdetermination

Experience voice and choice, participate Experience voice and choice, participate in decision making in decision making

Caring and Caring and compassioncompassion

Experience nurturing relationships free of Experience nurturing relationships free of abuseabuse

Equality and Equality and freedomfreedom

Benefit from fair and equitable Benefit from fair and equitable distribution of resources and burdensdistribution of resources and burdens

Elements of a Theory of PowerElements of a Theory of Power

1. 1. Power refers to the capacity and opportunity to Power refers to the capacity and opportunity to fulfil or obstruct personal, relational, or collective fulfil or obstruct personal, relational, or collective needs. needs.

2. 2. Power has psychological and political sources, Power has psychological and political sources, manifestations and consequences.manifestations and consequences.

3. 3. We can distinguish among power to strive for We can distinguish among power to strive for wellness, power to oppress, and power to resist wellness, power to oppress, and power to resist oppression and strive for liberation. oppression and strive for liberation.

4. 4. Power can be overt or covert, subtle or blatant, Power can be overt or covert, subtle or blatant, hidden or exposed.hidden or exposed.

5. 5. The exercise of power can apply to self, The exercise of power can apply to self, others, and collectives.others, and collectives.

6. 6. Power affords people multiple identities as Power affords people multiple identities as individuals seeking wellness, engaging in individuals seeking wellness, engaging in oppression, or resisting domination. oppression, or resisting domination.

77. Whereas people may be oppressed in one . Whereas people may be oppressed in one context, at a particular time and place, they context, at a particular time and place, they may act as oppressors at another time and may act as oppressors at another time and place.place.

8. 8. Due to structural factors such as social class, Due to structural factors such as social class, gender, ability, and race, people may enjoy gender, ability, and race, people may enjoy differential levels of power. differential levels of power.

9. 9. Degrees of power are also affected by personal Degrees of power are also affected by personal and social constructs such as beauty, intelligence, and social constructs such as beauty, intelligence, and assertiveness; constructs that enjoy variable and assertiveness; constructs that enjoy variable status within different cultures. status within different cultures.

1010. The exercise of power can reflect varying degrees . The exercise of power can reflect varying degrees of awareness with respect to the impact of one's of awareness with respect to the impact of one's actions.actions.

Elements of a Theory of Elements of a Theory of Psychopolitical ValidityPsychopolitical Validity

Psychopolitical validity derives from the Psychopolitical validity derives from the consideration of power dynamics in psychological consideration of power dynamics in psychological and political domains of wellness. and political domains of wellness.

The main objective of psychopolitical validity is to The main objective of psychopolitical validity is to infuse in community psychology an awareness of the infuse in community psychology an awareness of the role of power in wellness, oppression, and liberation role of power in wellness, oppression, and liberation at the personal, relational, and collective domains. at the personal, relational, and collective domains.

Psychopolitical validityPsychopolitical validity

In order to attain psychopolitical validity, In order to attain psychopolitical validity, investigations and interventions would have to investigations and interventions would have to meet certain criteria. These criteria have to do meet certain criteria. These criteria have to do with the extent to which research and action with the extent to which research and action incorporate lessons about psychological and incorporate lessons about psychological and political power. political power.

Psychopolitical Validity I: Epistemic Psychopolitical Validity I: Epistemic

This type of validity is achieved by the This type of validity is achieved by the systematic account of the role of power in systematic account of the role of power in political and psychological dynamics affecting political and psychological dynamics affecting phenomena of interest phenomena of interest

Such account needs to consider the role of Such account needs to consider the role of power in the psychology and politics of power in the psychology and politics of wellness, oppression and liberation, at the wellness, oppression and liberation, at the personal, relational, and collective domains. personal, relational, and collective domains.

Table 1Guidelines for Epistemic Psychopolitical Validity in Community Psychology

Concerns Domains

Collective Relational Personal

Wellness Accounts for role of political and economic power in economic prosperity and in creation of institutions that promote equality and public health

Studies the role of power in creating and sustaining egalitarian relationships, social cohesion, social support, respect for diversity and democratic participation in communities, groups, and families

Studies role of psychological and political power in achieving self-determination, empowerment, health, personal growth, meaning and spirituality

Oppression Explores role of globalization, colonization and exploitation in illness and suffering of nations and communities

Examines the role of political and psychological power in exclusion and discrimination based on class, gender, age, race, education and ability.Studies conditions leading to lack of support, horizontal violence and fragmentation within oppressed groups

Studies role of powerlessness in learned helplessness, hopelessness, self-deprecation, internalized oppression, shame, physical and mental health problems and addictions

Liberation Deconstructs ideological norms that lead to acquiescence and studies effective psychopolitical factors in resistance to norms that cause illness

Studies acts of solidarity and compassion with others who suffer from oppression and illness

Examines sources of health, strength, resilience, solidarity and development of activism and leadership

Psychopolitical Validity II: Psychopolitical Validity II: TransformationalTransformational

Transformational validity derives from the Transformational validity derives from the potential of our actions to promote personal, potential of our actions to promote personal, relational, and collective wellness by reducing relational, and collective wellness by reducing power inequalities and increasing political power inequalities and increasing political action action

Table 2Guidelines for Transformational Psychopolitical Validity

Concerns Domains

Collective Relational Personal

Well-being Contributes to institutions that support health, emancipation, human development, peace, protection of environment, and social justice

Contributes to power equalization in relationships and communities. Enriches awareness of subjective and psychological forces preventing solidarity. Builds trust, connection and participation in groups that support social cohesion, health and social justice

Supports personal empowerment, health, sociopolitical development, leadership training and solidarity. Contributes to personal and social responsibility and awareness of subjective forces preventing commitment to justice and personal depowerment when in position of privilege

Oppression Opposes economic colonialism and denial of cultural rights. Decries and resists role of own reference group or nation in oppression of others and deterioration of health in other groups

Contributes to struggle against in-group and out-group domination and discrimination, sexism and norms of violence. Builds awareness of own prejudice and participation in horizontal violence

Helps to prevent acting out of own oppression on others. Builds awareness of internalized oppression and role of dominant ideology in victim-blaming. Contributes to personal depowerment of people in position of privilege

Liberation Supports networks of resistance and social change movements that pursue health and wellness. Contributes to structural depowerment of privileged people

Supports resistance against objectification of others. Develops processes of mutual accountability

Helps to resists complacency and collusion with exploitative and illness producing system. Contributes to struggle to recover personal health and political identity

Project I: New SPECs: Three-Year Project I: New SPECs: Three-Year Action Research ProjectAction Research Project

Island Youth Center

Nazareth Center

HealthyCity

John SnowFoundation

MLK Center

Building on Building on StrengthsStrengths

Focusing on Focusing on Prevention Prevention

Working to Working to EmpowerEmpower

Changing Changing Community Community ConditionsConditions

Project II: Vision Implementation ProjectProject II: Vision Implementation ProjectThree year research and action project with large Three year research and action project with large

government department of human services government department of human services

VisionVision

ImplementationImplementation

ProjectProject

Clarifying and moving the Clarifying and moving the vision forwardvision forward

Implementing vision through Implementing vision through communities of practicecommunities of practice

Building the proper systems Building the proper systems for learning and growth for learning and growth

How Power Operates in Health and How Power Operates in Health and Human Services?Human Services?

Political power and psychological power Political power and psychological power interact in multiple interact in multiple waysways

Political and psychological power influence Political and psychological power influence values and values and interestsinterests of players in the health and human service arena of players in the health and human service arena

The more The more power equalizationpower equalization within the organization, the within the organization, the higher the chances that the intervention will be transformativehigher the chances that the intervention will be transformative

Some aspects, like Strengths and Prevention, are easier to Some aspects, like Strengths and Prevention, are easier to implement and implement and less threatening but less transformativeless threatening but less transformative than than Empowerment and Changing community conditionsEmpowerment and Changing community conditions

Contradictory discoursesContradictory discourses about power abound in the discourse about power abound in the discourse of participants in both projects of participants in both projects

Epistemic DialecticEpistemic Dialectic

Psychological Forces

Political Forces

PowerE

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Ethical DialecticEthical Dialectic

Interests

Values

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Power at the intersection of epistemic and ethical dialecticsPower at the intersection of epistemic and ethical dialectics

Psychological Forces

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Epistemic dialectic

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Stokols says….Stokols says….

The healthfulness of a situation and the well-being of The healthfulness of a situation and the well-being of its participants are assumed to be influenced by its participants are assumed to be influenced by multiple facets of both the physical environment (e.g., multiple facets of both the physical environment (e.g., geography, architecture, and technology) and the geography, architecture, and technology) and the social environment (e.g., culture, economics, and social environment (e.g., culture, economics, and politics). Moreover, the health status of individuals politics). Moreover, the health status of individuals and groups is influenced not only by environmental and groups is influenced not only by environmental factors but also by a variety of personal attributes, factors but also by a variety of personal attributes, including genetic heritage, psychological including genetic heritage, psychological

dispositions, and behavioral patterns.dispositions, and behavioral patterns.

Stokols continues…..Stokols continues…..

Thus, efforts to promote human well-being Thus, efforts to promote human well-being should be based on an understanding of the should be based on an understanding of the dynamic interplay among diverse dynamic interplay among diverse environmental and personal factors rather than environmental and personal factors rather than on analyses that focus exclusively on on analyses that focus exclusively on environmental, biological, or behavioral environmental, biological, or behavioral factors. (Stokols, 2000, p. 27)factors. (Stokols, 2000, p. 27)

Seligman says……Seligman says……

Seligman tells readers that, “even if you could Seligman tells readers that, “even if you could alter all of the external circumstances above, it alter all of the external circumstances above, it would not do much for you, since together would not do much for you, since together they probably account for no more than they probably account for no more than between 8 and 15 percent of the variance in between 8 and 15 percent of the variance in happiness” (Authentic Happiness, 2002, p. happiness” (Authentic Happiness, 2002, p. 61). 61).

Really?Really?

Seligman Engages in Seligman Engages in Context Minimization ErrorContext Minimization Error

““Tendency to ignore the impact of enduring Tendency to ignore the impact of enduring neighborhood and community contexts on neighborhood and community contexts on human behavior. The error has adverse human behavior. The error has adverse consequences for understanding psychological consequences for understanding psychological processes and efforts at social change” (Shinn processes and efforts at social change” (Shinn and Toohey, 2003, p. 428). and Toohey, 2003, p. 428).

Context Minimization ErrorContext Minimization Error

““Practitioners “should pay more attention to Practitioners “should pay more attention to the community contexts of human behavior. the community contexts of human behavior. Conditions in neighborhoods and community Conditions in neighborhoods and community settings are associated with residents' mental settings are associated with residents' mental and physical health, opportunities, and physical health, opportunities, satisfactions, and commitments.” (Shinn and satisfactions, and commitments.” (Shinn and Toohey, 2003, Annual Review of Psychology). Toohey, 2003, Annual Review of Psychology).

It’s like Venice…..It’s like Venice…..

Venice’s LessonVenice’s Lesson

““The psychotherapist, social worker or social The psychotherapist, social worker or social reformer, concerned only with his own clients and reformer, concerned only with his own clients and their grievance against society, perhaps takes a their grievance against society, perhaps takes a view comparable to the private citizen of Venice view comparable to the private citizen of Venice who concerns himself only with the safety of his who concerns himself only with the safety of his own dwelling and his own ability to get about the own dwelling and his own ability to get about the city. But if the entire republic is slowly being city. But if the entire republic is slowly being submerged, individual citizens cannot afford to submerged, individual citizens cannot afford to ignore their collective fate, because, in the end, ignore their collective fate, because, in the end, they all drown together if nothing is done” they all drown together if nothing is done” (Badcock, 1982)(Badcock, 1982)