Submitted by: Submitted by aswitcho1
Views: 10
Words: 1071
Pages: 5
Category: Philosophy and Psychology
Date Submitted: 07/20/2015 02:06 PM
MRS ABIGAIL SESA MUCHABAIWA
STUDENT NUMBER: 46332421
A critical comparison between the Community Psychology
and public Health Approaches to social problems
PYC 4811
ASSIGNMENT 01
Unique code:657794
l
19 April 2015
ABIGAIL SESA MUCHABAIWA
46332421
PYC4811
ASSIGNMENT 01
Community psychology and Public health approaches might share similar theories
and conceptual models for example the empowerment theory, the social change
theory, the dissemination of innovation and the ecological theory but they differ in
their explanation of causes and influences of mental illness. I will start by giving a
historical background of these two approaches that is, how they originated and
their historical developments. I will then give a few pointers with regards to the
approaches strengths and weaknesses then conclude by highlighting how these
approaches complement each other.
According to The Cambridge Dictionary of Psychology, “Community psychology
is a branch of applied psychology that focuses on person- environment
interactions usually at the level of the community and is aimed at improving the
general quality of life within a community”. It is the interaction that is seen
between people and the environment within a certain community. Community
psychology originated from Mental Reform Movements in the United States of
America. The three reform movements were the, “moral treatment” (in the early
1800s), the “mental hygiene” movement (in the early 1900s) and the
“deinstitutionalization” (in the 1960s). (Tutorial letter 102/0/2015 for PYC4811).
It was first recognized in South Africa in the 1980s during the struggle for
democracy. There are two most recognized models in community psychology
which are The Mental Health Model and The Social Action Model. The mental
health model focuses on, “… prevention, immunization against rick for mental
illness and skills-enhancement,” whereas the social action model focuses on
ABIGAIL SESA...