CRITICAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE BASIC
COORDINATES
1. Discuss the idea of critical psychology as a critical orientation towards psychological knowledge and
practice that affects how we think about the theory, context and practice of psychology
Critical thinking Involves thinking clearly and rationally
Thinking is executed in a reflective and independent
way
Process involves questioning and using logic
Critical Psychology An approach to psychology
Looks reflexively at the discipline
Considers the implications of psychological knowledge
Critical psychology as orientation rather than theory
Critical psychology: an approach and kind of orientation (rather than 1 kind of theory/ 1 set of
concepts)
→ Towards psychological knowledge, practice and to relations of power in general
Critical psychology is by definition diverse and multiple - it cannot be localised to 1 form of theory/ 1
type of critical practice/ single context
Is an orientation that cuts across the various sub-disciplines in psychology and is made up of diverse
theoretical perspectives and forms of practice
Theory /context /practice: 3 points of focus
3 vital domains of critical activity or critique:
→ An emphasis on the value of different modes of conceptualisation (theory)
→ An eye for specificity (context)
→ Drive to convert critical sensibilities into a kind of critical response or action (practice)
Emphasis on different kinds of conceptualisation using theoretical resources
Theory
Applies certain traditional critical tools:
→ Marxism; Feminism; Psycho-analysis; Post-structuralism
Applies certain newer critical tools:
Eye on the specific
Context
Focus on local and third world issues
→ Poverty; HIV / AIDS; Racism
Processing of critical sensitivity to the responses and action
Practice
Focus on how to practically understand how power works
Wants to understand how inequality operates
Find ways to oppose this through participatory action resource/ analysis of discourse/ liberation
CP: is psychology as ethical practice that reacts to or against suffering, alienation, brutality (it attempts
to improve people’s lives)
Contextual = experience cannot be understood in isolation or something that exists only as an internal
process
It questions the underlying cultural assumptions of psychology itself
Comprised of a multitude of perspectives and concepts = transdisciplinary
Fragmented set of agendas across several theories and practices
Critical Psychology = the ‘conscience’ of Psychology
1|Chapter 1
COORDINATES
1. Discuss the idea of critical psychology as a critical orientation towards psychological knowledge and
practice that affects how we think about the theory, context and practice of psychology
Critical thinking Involves thinking clearly and rationally
Thinking is executed in a reflective and independent
way
Process involves questioning and using logic
Critical Psychology An approach to psychology
Looks reflexively at the discipline
Considers the implications of psychological knowledge
Critical psychology as orientation rather than theory
Critical psychology: an approach and kind of orientation (rather than 1 kind of theory/ 1 set of
concepts)
→ Towards psychological knowledge, practice and to relations of power in general
Critical psychology is by definition diverse and multiple - it cannot be localised to 1 form of theory/ 1
type of critical practice/ single context
Is an orientation that cuts across the various sub-disciplines in psychology and is made up of diverse
theoretical perspectives and forms of practice
Theory /context /practice: 3 points of focus
3 vital domains of critical activity or critique:
→ An emphasis on the value of different modes of conceptualisation (theory)
→ An eye for specificity (context)
→ Drive to convert critical sensibilities into a kind of critical response or action (practice)
Emphasis on different kinds of conceptualisation using theoretical resources
Theory
Applies certain traditional critical tools:
→ Marxism; Feminism; Psycho-analysis; Post-structuralism
Applies certain newer critical tools:
Eye on the specific
Context
Focus on local and third world issues
→ Poverty; HIV / AIDS; Racism
Processing of critical sensitivity to the responses and action
Practice
Focus on how to practically understand how power works
Wants to understand how inequality operates
Find ways to oppose this through participatory action resource/ analysis of discourse/ liberation
CP: is psychology as ethical practice that reacts to or against suffering, alienation, brutality (it attempts
to improve people’s lives)
Contextual = experience cannot be understood in isolation or something that exists only as an internal
process
It questions the underlying cultural assumptions of psychology itself
Comprised of a multitude of perspectives and concepts = transdisciplinary
Fragmented set of agendas across several theories and practices
Critical Psychology = the ‘conscience’ of Psychology
1|Chapter 1
