Human Security Psychology: A Linking Construct for an Eclectic Discipline

Abstract

Since its inception as a modern and evolving discipline, psychology has been concerned with issues of human security. This think piece offers an initial conceptualisation of human security as a broad security concept that encompasses a range of interrelated dimensions that have been responded to by different sub-disciplinary domains within psychology. We advance an argument for a human security psychology as a connecting focal point for general psychology that enables us to bring knowledge from across our eclectic discipline into further dialogue. This is a necessary step in understanding better the state of current thinking on the psychology of security and as a basis for informing further theory, research and practice efforts to address issues of human (in)security. This initial effort is informed by Assemblage Theory, which offers a dynamic and contextually rich perspective on people as agentive beings entangled within evolving natural and social formations that can foster or undermine their experiences of [in]security. The article is completed with a brief agenda for advancing human security psychology.

Decent work, sustainable livelihoods and climate action: Time for a clean slate?

“…Such fairness – and a fair income element of sustainability – will in turn reflect on worker well-being (Carr, 2023a). Thus can just transitions begin to speak concretely not only to SDG-10 – reduced inequality but also to SDG-16 – human security, through just, peaceful and inclusive institutions in society (Carr, 2023b; Hodgetts, Hopner et al, 2022).…”

Industry 5.0: A comprehensive insight into the future of work, social sustainability, sustainable development, and career

“…• By prioritizing worker well-being, technological adaptation, and sustainability, Industry 5.0 aims to create a future-proof industry that benefits companies and workers. It provides a more prosperous and fulfilling work environment (Breque et al, 2021), which will offer operators decent work (i.e., Eighth Sustainability Goal; Blustein et al, 2016Blustein et al, , 2019Di Fabio & Blustein, 2016;Duffy et al, 2016Duffy et al, , 2017Kenny, Schmidtberger, et al, 2023;Svicher et al, 2022) contributing to the achievement of one of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs; Di Fabio & Cooper, 2023;Kasinathan et al, 2022;UN, 2022), considering also the concepts of decent lives and healthy lives , and including human security (Hodgetts et al, 2023).…”

In a double‐bind: Time–space distanciation, socioeconomic status, and coping with financial stress in the United States

“…As noted in another contribution to this Special Issue, a processual approach to precarity fits well with assemblage theory, which contends that “the social world is [best] conceptualized as a contingent and emergent ecosystem that is comprised of a nexus of interacting assemblages that are reproduced through ongoing social relations, human and non‐humane interactions, and institutional practices” (Rua et al, 2022, p. 4). Assemblage theory perspectives are currently burgeoning in social psychology (Cikara et al, 2022; Hodgetts et al, 2022; Sullivan et al, 2022) which suggests the time is ripe for moving the field towards a more processual, material, and fluid comprehension of how factors like SES impact psychology. Precarity appears to be an important construct for facilitating such a transition in our theoretical approach to social class.…”