Psychologists, counselors, and other concerned citizens around the world act together to expose and address unequal power relations that affect individual and community well-being.
why?
Discussions held at psychological conferences and on various psychology-related list-serves have highlighted the need for psychologists, counselors and others in the helping professions to become more involved in popular education and social action. Various individuals and organizations are looking for ways to mobilize in the struggle for social justice and well being for people and groups in local communities and around the world. To help catalyze these efforts, psyact brings to light unequal power relations and critiques the ways in which psychology and related professions are complicit in maintaining the status quo.
what?
The main objective of psyact is to provide a forum for learning about the social, economic, and political sources of individual wellbeing and to promote critical action, especially with and on behalf of those groups, communities, and nations that experience oppression and exploitation. We also aim to provide a location for social networking to facilitate local action. Through sharing ideas and resources members can encourage dialogue, action, and reflection on social justice related issues that spill out into our families, our classrooms, our workplaces, and our communities.
who?
Psyact is for everyone regardless of any connection to psychology. The coalition is not exclusive to psychologists. We start with psychologists and others in the helping professions because we have something in common and because we have experience with community and societal problems that affect psychological well-being. From a pragmatic point of view, there are many people who wish to engage in action but lack an effective vehicle for doing so. This coalition is meant to provide such a vehicle.
how?
Psyact visitors and members can browse the content and forums to learn about current issues that are related to social justice and wellbeing and link with other for action. Registering (free) with psyact gives members the opportunity to contribute to the creation of site content by submitting stories, links, or by creating their own psyact blog . Through sharing ideas and resources members can encourage dialogue, action, and reflection on social justice related issues that spill out into our families, our classrooms, our workplaces, and our communities.
We hope this site can be a work in progress and that members jointly shape its development. In fact, if you register you can edit this page!
