Psychology of Liberation: Theory and Applications (Peace Psychology Book Series)

Since the mid-1980s, the psychology of liberation movement has been a catalyst for collective and individual change in communities throughout Latin America, and beyond; and recent political developments are making its powerful, transformative ideas more relevant than ever before. Psychology of Liberation: Theory and Applications updates the activist frameworks developed by Ignacio Martin-Baro and Paulo Freire with compelling stories from the frontlines of conflict in the developing and developed worlds, as social science and psychological practice are allied with struggles for peace, justice, and equality. In these chapters, liberation is presented as both an ongoing process and a core dimension of wellbeing, entailing the reconstruction of social identity and the transformation of all parties involved, both oppressed and oppressors. It also expands the social consciousness of professionals, bringing more profound meaning to practice and enhancing related areas such as peace psychology, as shown in articles such as these: * Philippines: the role of liberation movements in the transition to democracy. * Venezuela: liberation psychology as a therapeutic intervention with street youth. * South Africa: the movement for representational knowledge. * Muslim world: religion, the state, and the gendering of human rights. * Ireland: linking personal and political development. * Australia: addressing issues of racism, identity, and immigration. * Colombia: building cultures of peace from the devastation of war. Psychology of Liberation demonstrates the commitment to overcome social injustices and oppression. The book is a critical resource for social and community psychologists as well as policy analysts. It can also be used as a text for graduate courses in psychology, sociology, social work and community studies.

Since the mid-1980s, the psychology of liberation movement has been a catalyst for collective and individual change in communities throughout Latin America, and beyond; and recent political developments are making its powerful, transformative ideas more relevant than ever before. Psychology of Liberation: Theory and Applications updates the activist frameworks developed by Ignacio Martin-Baro and Paulo Freire with compelling stories from the frontlines of conflict in the developing and developed worlds, as social science and psychological practice are allied with struggles for peace, justice, and equality.

In these chapters, liberation is presented as both an ongoing process and a core dimension of wellbeing, entailing the reconstruction of social identity and the transformation of all parties involved, both oppressed and oppressors. It also expands the social consciousness of professionals, bringing more profound meaning to practice and enhancing related areas such as peace psychology, as shown in articles such as these:

• Philippines: the role of liberation movements in the transition to democracy.
• Venezuela: liberation psychology as a therapeutic intervention with street youth.
• South Africa: the movement for representational knowledge.
• Muslim world: religion, the state, and the gendering of human rights.
• Ireland: linking personal and political development.
• Australia: addressing issues of racism, identity, and immigration.
• Colombia: building cultures of peace from the devastation of war.

Psychology of Liberation demonstrates the commitment to overcome social injustices and oppression. The book is a critical resource for social and community psychologists as well as policy analysts. It can also be used as a text for graduate courses in psychology, sociology, social work and community studies.

Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Praxis and Liberation in the Context of Latin American Theory....Pages 11-36 Ignacio Martín-Baró’s Social Psychology of Liberation: Situated Knowledge and Critical Commitment Against Objectivism....Pages 37-50 Towards a Really Social Psychology: Liberation Psychology Beyond Latin America....Pages 51-72 Methods for Liberation: Critical Consciousness in Action....Pages 73-91 Liberating South African Psychology: The Legacy of Racism and the Pursuit of Representative Knowledge Production....Pages 93-113 Immigration and Identity: The Ongoing Struggles for Liberation....Pages 115-133 Reflections on Liberation Psychology in Action in an Irish Context....Pages 135-153 Liberation Movements During Democratic Transition: Positioning with the Changing State....Pages 155-172 The Game of War: The Liberating Action of Games in a Context of Political Polarization....Pages 173-191 “Liberating” the Hijab....Pages 193-204 Development of Historical Memory as a Psychosocial Recovery Process....Pages 205-219 Psychological Accompaniment: Construction of Cultures of Peace Among a Community Affected by War....Pages 221-235 Liberation Psychology on the Street: Working with Youngsters Who have Lived on the Streets of Caracas....Pages 237-258 New Challenges for the Psychology of Liberation: Building Frameworks for Social Coexistence....Pages 259-276 Gendering Peace and Liberation: A Participatory-Action Approach to Critical Consciousness Acquisition Among Women in a Marginalized Neighborhood....Pages 277-294 Back Matter....Pages 295-303 Springer Cover 1 Psychology of Liberation: Theory and Applications 3 ISBN: 0387857834 4 Series Editor Preface 6 Contents 8 Contributors 10 Praxis and Liberation in the Context of Latin American Theory 16 Ignacio Martín-Baró’s Social Psychology of Liberation: Situated Knowledge and Critical Commitment Against Objectivism 42 Towards a Really Social Psychology: Liberation Psychology Beyond Latin America 56 Methods for Liberation: Critical Consciousness in Action 78 Liberating South African Psychology: The Legacy of Racism and the Pursuit of Representative Knowledge Production 97 Immigration and Identity: The Ongoing Struggles for Liberation 118 Reflections on Liberation Psychology in Action in an Irish Context 137 Liberation Movements During Democratic Transition: Positioning with the Changing State 156 The Game of War: The Liberating Action of Games in a Context of Political Polarization 174 “Liberating” the Hijab 193 Development of Historical Memory as a Psychosocial Recovery Process 205 Psychological Accompaniment: Construction of Cultures of Peace Among a Community Affected by War 220 Liberation Psychology on the Street: Working with Youngsters Who have Lived on the Streets of Caracas 235 New Challenges for the Psychology of Liberation: Building Frameworks for Social Coexistence 257 Gendering Peace and Liberation: A Participatory-Action Approach to Critical Consciousness Acquisition Among Women in a Marginalized Neighborhood 275 Index 293 ISBN-13:,9780387857831 This book updates the liberation activist frameworks developed by Ignacio Martin-Baro and Paulo Freire. It offers stories from the frontlines of conflict as social science and psychological practice are allied with struggles for peace, justice, and equality.