Barcelona schematic of Liberation Psychology

What do we understand by “Liberation Psychology”? – output from workshop: “Constructing Liberation Psychology”, International Congress of Community Psychology, Barcelona, June 2012.
Impossibility of
neutrality: we take a
position in social
Critique of
oppressive forces
issues by the way we
Social and political
transformation
New approach that can
De-ideologization:
level)
power in community
Paying attention to power
relationships
structures (dealienated)
context of domination
and reduced level of hope
psychology’s focus
on individual
sources of problems
/ solutions
Recognising and seeking
Maintaining a
out oppression
critical stance with
Working with the most
marginalised groups
mainstream
psychological
ideas and practice
Taking sides with
Conscientisation
Liberation as
: action-reflectionaction
process and not
only as effect
Building of bonds
of solidarity
the excluded and
the oppressed
Conscientisation: finding
ways to develop
not to get stuck
in categories
processes
Being a critical reflexive
practitioner
Knowledge – people see
themselves reflected in
knowledge
subjugated voices
to be heard
social nature of
= listening =
dialogue =
participatory
experienced by a community /
Intersectionality: multiple
identities coming together
Theory follows and
supports the needs of social
action (realismo crítico)
Critical reconstruction of
psychology from the
perspective of the other.
socio-historically situated /
individual and social impact
Violence: Socially produced
and maintained. Ideology.
Diversity – multiple
identities
human beings – but
can be about
individuals)
Bottom-up
Resistance
psychology
(proceeds from the
Psychosocial trauma
Auto-critical process
Really social
Creating space for
Fluidity – trying
consciousness about one’s
position in system of power
libpsy.org
Participatory / Democratic
respect to
world to act on it and
change it and oneselves.
Liberation of/from
Virtues / Strengths
oppressed)
process of reading the
with this (on local to global
Build alternatives in
Bottom-up approach;
changeable. E.g. “private property”, aligning with the poor /
oppressed (focus of work
social classs, etc.
starts from position of the
improve their ability to
Critical consciousness:
change things
Conscientisation – the
context in mind – working
national /
community / local
Critique of
Revealing the “natural as socially
help communities to
Holding political / social
levels: global /
focus it / research and
participate
constructed by humans, therefore
Goal of liberation
Historical Memory
Multiple system
Start at own point. Limit
situation. Choice / constraints