Psychology and social justice: Theoretical and philosophical engagements.

Abstract

Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of social justice, there has been less interest in interrogating and clarifying the philosophical and theoretical issues that lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together a range of established scholars with diverse social and political commitments to reflect on some of the philosophical and theoretical issues that emerge when psychologists address social justice in their research and practice. The major themes taken up in this issue include the relationship between the individual and the community, the role that psychology plays both in promoting and in preventing the development of more equitable social and political institutions, and the way that different forms of universalism (e.g., moral, scientific, psychological) inform the struggle for social justice.

How the Desensitization of Police Violence, Stereotyped Language, and Racial Bias Impact Black Communities

“…Psychology does have a role in developing more equitable social and political institutions 53 and through graduate and continuing education, 12 psychologists can make strong contributions to help mend the relationships between the Black community and the criminal justice system. By engaging in research and advocacy, psychologists can provide training to both the Black community and police departments on how violence, cognition, and media impact our mental health and relationships.…”

Beyond Four Forces: The Evolution of Psychotherapy

“…C. Lee, , 2012Vera & Speight, 2007). Furthermore, they began to centralize the sociopolitical implications of oppression and of social justice into clinical theory, practice, ethics, and research methods (e.g., Arfken & Yen, 2014;D. R. Fox & Prilleltensky, 2009;Goodman et al, 2004;Liu, 2011Liu, , 2013Lyons et al, 2013;Prilleltensky, Dokecki, Frieden, & Ota Wang, 2007).…”

“…Psychotherapists were called upon to work for justice and to help end racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and other forms of oppression. Integrating social justice into the core of psychotherapy gained increasing support from many (e.g., Arfken & Yen, 2014;Chang, Crethar, & Ratts, 2010;Chung & Bemak, 2012;D'Andrea & Daniels, 2010;Fouad & Prince, 2012;Lewis, Lewis, Daniels, & D'Andrea, 2011;Ratts, 2009;Ratts et al, 2010;Toporek et al, 2006).…”

Relevance to Psychology of Beliefs about Socialism: Some New Research Questions

“…He illustrates this by proposing that psychologists tend to shift the analysis of exploitation from its social historical context “to individual choices and experiences…This,” he argues, “is good news for those who prefer psychological remedies to social change….Plenty of people are alienated but say they are happy, and drug companies are then happy to step in and cheer them up” (p. 48). Arfken and Yen () remind us of our discipline's complicity in supporting a racist agenda in the late 19th century, and its exclusion of women from theory and serious focus until the last half of the 20th century, thus reinforcing oppressive social practices.…”