The theoretical nature of Community Psychology has raised diverse opinions because there are criteria that view it as a predominantly practical branch. However, since sociology and social services are so closely related, the need to develop certain theoretical models becomes evident.
In this Psychology-Online article, an analysis is made of the theoretical models in community psychologyits validity as a theory, its generalization and other capabilities, as well as the contributions they make to the theoretical body of this branch of psychological science.
What is community psychology
We define community psychology as a branch of research whose main objective is to analyze people’s behavior through a collective prism, that is, through the joint analysis of societies and communities.
Having such a broad approach, it is truly difficult to orient yourself in the sea of models, contributions, criteria and theories on the one hand and on the other hand proposals for intervention programs, which show the dimensions of the community scientific method and its various applications in different contexts in which it is difficult to see the correlation with their contextual theoretical framework.
Relationship between community psychology and sociology
As mentioned previously, the objective of theoretical models in community psychology is analyze, categorize and study human behavior through group behavior. This objective is shared with the study of sociology. A science that is defined as the historical and phenomenological study of social groups.
The different theoretical models of Community Psychology
The theoretical framework of community psychology remains quite confusing and contradictory. In order to establish this discipline and facilitate the study of communities, a multiplicity of theoretical elaborations have been developed, which have been called “theoretical models”among which we can mention:
- Models of social change
- Supply models
- Systematic orientation models
- Social support models
- Goal models
- Ecological models
- Action models
These theories represent the study from very broad positions (such as those referring to social change, which propose macrosocial transformation as the object of Community Psychology), those that are dedicated to a specific aspect (objective models) and even those that They address method and are aimed at community intervention.
Given the differences between these models, Sanchez Vidal (1991) considers that it is possible to divide into two large groups:
- Analytical models: Which are divided into Global or social and psychosocial
- Operating models
The global or social analytics They are those that focus on the global socio-cultural framework of community performance, allowing psychosocial phenomena of direct interest to be related to Community Psychology, with its macro-social determinants and correlates. The psychosocial ones are part of the mesosocial level, linking two basic terms; individual and social system at various levels
In the operating models they can be distinguished; the most conceptual and evaluative ones that defend the objectives or goals of action and the most formal, dynamic and relational ones, which, focusing on the action and its effects, guide and guide the implementation of community intervention from Psychology.
Community psychology and social psychology: theoretical models
The elaboration of a theory must begin by defining the essential condition of the field of study, for its subsequent projection. In this case, this central criterion is to develop in the individual the capacity to be a subject of health, which immediately derives the need to propose the determinants through which this construction can be approached, which are four:
- achieve the necessary changes in lives and his or her environment.
- Make the community have its own meaning and function as a support system.
- Develop potentialities in the form of personological resources.
- Create a space that is a common stage of action.
In fact, these concepts – indissoluble – are seen in a fractional way in each model and the fourth has not been the subject of sufficient attention, which limits the usefulness of the theoretical constructsbecause space is the reason for group existence.
In the opinion of the author of the article, the models that make the most contributions to the theoretical body of Community Psychology are:
- Models of social change.
- Competition models.
- Models of social support.
Each of these models studies some of the central elements of community theory to achieve the ultimate goal of community action, that is, for people to be protagonists of their own health.
Below is a brief analysis of each theoretical model in community psychology:
Models of social change
In a general sense, promote the transformation of the social environment to readjust its functions and give a space to all its members based on integration. These changes can lead to a reorganization that can be used in other aspects of human and social activity. Changes are also considered to be the assumption of new roles and the improvement of those already assumed, and in general any psychological transformation that allows the search for health, as a balance.
In this way, the author believes that those positions that advocate radical social change that leads to political and economic social transformations are not useful because she considers it utopian that Psychology can achieve variations of macrosocial magnitudewhich is corroborated because there is no evidence that changes have occurred at that level.
The purposes of radical social change lead to an excessive emphasis on social aspects, which leads to a decrease in psychological valuation, an over-dimension of it, seeing it as a transformer of social systems, which leads to its theoretical principles having great application difficulties.
Competition models
They give meaning to the volitional character of the socializing process, where psychological qualities with personological particularity will be developed to manifest competent behaviors that allow you to live better, understanding within this and as a priority healthy behaviors. The development of potentialities and the creation of these psychological resources during ontogenetic development allows self-realization, elevation of self-esteem, decision making and autonomous behavior.
Considering competence in the sense of the competent man, and the ability to cope with conflicts, as in their absence, makes these models significant, because:
- They emphasize the psychological relevance, by considering all people as bearers of resources and potential. There are no incapable people, we all have potentialities – but different – and some discover them easier than others, because social conditions have been more favorable for it.
- They are framed in the mesosocial levelwhere the community is located and does not intend to penetrate the macrosocial level systems, which makes its constructs more useful.
- They consider as a basic criterion the promotion of healthy behaviors based on scientific knowledge shared by professionals and the community to establish an interactive relationship interested in development.
- Derivation towards the field of health, where knowledge and methodologies can be found to achieve the purposes of empowerment and self-management.
Social support models
They manifest the meaning of interpersonal relationships in the form of social support, giving importance of the constructive quality of the exchange, which means that the system has a personal meaning for each individual, allowing the assessment of social requirements, whether daily or in crisis, and the feasibility of qualitatively useful coping. Social support promotes health and well-being. It is a mechanism to raise morale and positive affective states, creating an increase in self-esteem, stability and a sense of belonging, which strengthens the individual and the group.
In summary it can be said that Effective social support makes it possible:
- Development of qualities with the consequent psychological strengthening.
- Breadth in the perspective of physical and psychological balance with the benefits that derive from this.
- Decrease in the risk of getting sick (mainly in chronic and non-communicable diseases) Increase in coping ability in life events.
- Decreased dependency on health services.
Do they function as theoretical models in community psychology?
What is interesting now is to determine to what extent these definitions are developed theories, that is, whether they truly function as “theoretical models.” To begin, it is necessary to make some reflections on the theory, its functions, usefulness and the criteria to take into account to evaluate it.
Thus we find that the definition of Kerlinger (1975) on theory gives us essential elements that characterize it, when he says that it is a set of constructs (concepts), definitions and propositions related to each other that represent a systematic point of view of phenomena specifying relationships between variables, with the aim of explaining and predict phenomena. Other authors such as Black and Champion (1976), Blalock (1984) and Gibbs (1976) also make definitions in this regard that are very similar to Kerlinger’s.
When the literature is reviewed, different ways of explaining and applying the theory are found. Theory is usually identified with theoretical orientation, theoretical framework, theoretical scheme or model (Sjoberg and Nett, 1980). There are even those who affirm that the theory is a set of unverifiable or incomprehensible ideas that are in the minds of scientists (Black and Champion, 1976), others who see it as something detached from reality and even those who believe that theories are the ideas of the authors, thus equating them with the history of ideas.
The criterion on the theory is so broad that we will take Kerlinger’s for its seriousness and logic.
Theories of social psychology: main functions
Every theory is useful, either because it describes, explains and predicts a phenomenon or fact; because it organizes knowledge or because it guides research. There are no bad or inadequate theories, what happens is that sometimes it is not possible to see the usefulness of the theory because its connection with reality is not seen. On other occasions, what is actually a belief, a set of assumptions, a speculation or an occurrence is called a theory. When the theory is applied to a certain reality and it does not work, this does not make it useless, but rather inoperative for a specific context.
all the theories They provide knowledge, although sometimes they see the phenomena being studied from different angles and some are more developed than others and fulfill their functions better. To decide the value of a theory there are several…