Philosophical Concerns in Critical Psychology

● Critical Psychology is rooted in different social critiques to industrial capitalism (Marx, 1844) and the rise of fascism in Western Europe (Frankfurt school,1930's).

● The emphasis is that individualizing psychology itself is problematic because we are a product of our social systems and times.

● Brofenbrenner’s Ecological Theory also reflects the importance of social cultural factors, yet mainstream psychology ignores these critical dimensions.

‘Since alienated labour: (1) alienates nature from man; and (2) alienates man from himself, from his own active function, his life activity; so it alienates him from the species. ... For labour, life activity, productive life, now appear to man only as means for the satisfaction of a need, the need to maintain physical existence. ... In the type of life activity resides the whole character of a species, its species-character; and free, conscious activity is the species-character of human beings. ... Conscious life activity distinguishes man from the life activity of animals.’ (Manuscripts, p. 16)

Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, New York, International Publishers, 1964. HX39.5 A224 196

KARL MARX

Michel Foucault (1926-1984)

● French philosopher who studied the historical development of pathological discourse and sexuality.

● Outlined how Western European society developed the concept of 'normality' and 'abnormality' as a form of social control and regulation.

● Emphasized that to understand psychological development we need to understand how we have come to talk and think about ourselves and others through the historical analysis of power relations.

Foucault...

● Discourses are historical so we can ask at this point in history...– 'Who is saying what about whom and why?'– Example: When a psychologist says to a patient

that he/she has a particular diagnosis this is an example of power relations. If the patient disagree's he is seen as oppositional and other tactics may be used to 'convince' him of what he 'really' is or has.

Alternatives to mainstream pathological discourse

● Who has the right to define who you are and what you are experiencing?

● 'The personal is political' (Feminist slogan).● Hearing Voices Network

– Eleanor Longden 'The voices in my head‘ Ted Talks. http://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden_the_voices_in_my_head

‘The Spirit Level’ (2009) Wilkinson and Picketthttp://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-inequality-for-all

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● The increase in the standard of living for wealthy countries improved living conditions and psychological health up to a point.

● Income improves quality of life up to a minimum living wage ($25,000 per capita).

● Increasing social problems and health are not related to income level but to income inequality.

Psychological health and inequality

1. Most powerful sources of stress:● Low social status● Lack of friends● Stress in early life.

2. Social Evaluation Stress: Dickerson and Kemeny (2004)– Threats to self-esteem or status in which

others could negatively judge performance, especially when uncontrolable.

Psychological health and inequality

Theory: – That social evaluative stress is higher in

countries with high levels of mobility, competitiveness and isolation from community support.

– Greater inequality creates higher levels of social evaluative stress.

– Japanese society (low inequality) values collectivity and downplays individualism, the USA (high inequality) does the opposite.