A Critical Comparison and Contrast Between Community Psychology and the Public Health Approach to Social Problems

A Critical Comparison and Contrast Between Community Psychology and The Public Health Approach

A Critical Comparison and Contrast between Community Psychology and the Public Health Approach to Social Problems

PYC48011- Assignment 1 April 2014 Unique Number: 536709 Ms. G L L Abroms Student number: 44420145

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A Critical Comparison and Contrast Between Community Psychology and The Public Health Approach

Table of Contents

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Introduction- An Overview of Community Psychology and the Public Health Approach .................... 3 Models and Underlying Assumptions ................................................................................................... 3 Strengths and Weaknesses ................................................................................................................... 4 Concluding thoughts ............................................................................................................................. 5 References ............................................................................................................................................ 6

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A Critical Comparison and Contrast Between Community Psychology and The Public Health Approach

1. Introduction- An Overview of Community Psychology and the Public Health Approach

One could use a metaphor of a scale to describe Community Psychology and the Public Health Approach to social problems- both share a common denominator where emphasis is on the community, group or public, and the mutual belief of disease prevention and health promotion. On the one side of the scale, there is Community Psychology which originated from the U.S.A “during an era when there was growing concern about both the lack of resources and treatment facilities and the impact of social systems on the human psyche.” (Seedat, Cloete, & Shochet, 1988, p. 39-40). Its primary focus was on the prevention of mental illness and disorders by strengthening, conserving...