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Critical Psychology

APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL


Critical Psychology emphasizes critical theory as it challenges the mainstream of psychology.It includes a variety of approaches that challenges the key assumptions, values, and practices in the mainstream of psychology. The mainstream of psychology deals with psychology which is practiced by field's dominant professionals, institutions, and professionals. It focuses on preventing and treating psychopathology.

How it was originated?
Critical Psychology started from 19th century. This term was used in Berlin, 1970. German Student Movement (Movement of 1968) took place in West Germany against west governments and poor living conditions of students. In student's revolt, Marx's Critique of Political Economy played an important role.

Klaus Holzkamp also played important role in raising up the concept of Critical Psychology. He is also considered as the theoretical founder of Critical Psychology after publishing his book "Foundations of Psychology" Before it, he has published a book on Sensory Perception. In his book, the foundation of psychology, he has tried to view psychology as a pre-paradigmatic discipline of science. He has attempted to provide a comprehensive and integrated form to define psychological research on Aleksey Leontyev's approach to cultural and historical psychology and activity theory. he incorporated ideas from Lucien Seve's theory of personality, Marx's theory, Freud's psychoanalysis and Marleau Ponty's Phenomenology.

Before his death, his major publication was about learning where he has incorporated ideas in the first part of his book from Jean Lave i.e. Situated learning and Edwin Hutchins (distributed cognition). The second part of the book contained an analysis of Classroom learning influenced by Michael Foucault's Discipline and Punish. 

His main message was " Mainstream of Psychology serves the interest of power elite by disregarding the ability of humans to change their life circumstances".
Conventional psychology was rejected by Radical Psychology during 1960-1970. As conventional psychology focused on the individual as the basic unit of analysis and sole source of psychopathology. Radical psychology focuses on the role of society to treat mental illness by preventing psychopathology. It emphasizes on radical social change and British are now taking anti-psychiatry as critical psychiatry.

During 1990, Many books were published focusing on Critical Psychology. Dennis Fox and Isaac Prilleltensky edited Critical psychology book focusing on discourse.

Ian Parker (British Psychologist and British Psychoanalyst) has worked in three traditions of Critical Psychology. They were Discursive Analysis, Marxist Psychology, and Freud's Psychoanalysis. It focuses on ideology and power. He has published his work in online Radical psychology and Annual Review of Critical Psychology during 1999 where he argues critical psychology needs to include four components:

Critical Psychology involves using psychology more actively to combat social injustice. It also tries to prevent discrimination against minorities. It helps to empower people. though the controversy is going to Britain psychologist and psychiatrist seek to connect through Asylum Collective. And Journal and Annual review of Critical psychology are working in the field of Clinical Psychology.

About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.



References:
Critical Psychology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_psychology

Critical Psychology
http://www.sv.uio.no/psi/english/research/our-research-environments/cultural-and-community-psychology/critical-psychology/

Ian Parker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Parker_(psychologist)

Introduction to Critical Psychology
file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/Critical%20Psychology%20-%20Intro%20Chapter%20(1).pdf

Klaus Holzkamp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Holzkamp



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