Toward Psychologies of Liberation

by Mary Watkins, Helene Shulman

Psychologies of liberation are emerging on every continent in response to the collective traumas inflicted by colonialism and globalization. The authors present the theoretical foundation and participatory methodologies that unite these radical interdisciplinary approaches to creating individual and community well-being. They move from a description of the psychological and community wounds that are common to unjust and violent contexts to engaging examples of innovative community projects from around the world that seek to heal these wounds.

 

The creation of public homeplaces, the work of liberation arts, critical participatory action research, public dialogue, and reconciliation are highlighted as embodying the values and hopes of liberation psychology. Drawing on psychoanalysis, trauma studies, liberation arts, participatory research, and contemporary cultural work, this book nourishes our understanding of and imagination about the kinds of healing that are necessary to the creation of more just and peaceful communities. In dialogue with cultural workers, writers, and visionaries from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the United States, and the Pacific Islands, Toward Psychologies of Liberation quickens a dialogical convergence of liberatory psychological theories and practices that will seed individual and community transformation.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Sociology, Counselling, Social Work, Social Justice

392 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 2008

About the author

Mary Watkins, Ph.D., is a core faculty member, Co-Chair of the Community Psychology, Liberation Psychology, and Ecopsychology specialization of the M.A./Ph.D. Depth Psychology Program, and founding Coordinator of Community and Ecological Fieldwork and Research at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is the author of Waking Dreams, Invisible Guests: The Development of Imaginal Dialogues, the co-author of Toward Psychologies of Liberation, Talking With Young Children About Adoption, a co-editor of Psychology and the Promotion of Peace, and essays on the confluence of liberation psychology and depth psychology. She works at the interfaces between Euro-American depth psychologies and psychologies of liberation from Latin America, Africa and Asia. She has worked as a clinical psychologist with adults, children, and families, and with small and large groups around issues of peace, envisioning the future, diversity, vocation, immigration and social justice. She is a Peacebuilding Associate of the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding and is a member of the national Steering Committee for Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR).

Reviews

[Michael Sasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad this book was written. I learned a lot. And ultimately I found it disappointing because while it claims to be about liberation it provides no vision for radical structural change and in fact seems to be arguing implicitly against existing revolutionary theory/frameworks.

It would have been more useful (and felt more honest to me) if there was at least a brief engagement with Marx -- stating the authors' disagreement(s) more transparently. Instead they rest on Liberation Theology and even nod appreciatively to Robin Kelley and Aurora Levins Morales (for example) without noting the rich engagement with Marxism of all three (in different ways for sure).

I am very interested in how psychology/therapeutic practice might be of use to building power towards social justice. There are some insights that begin to move in that direction in this book (although most not as clear as what Shaia et al offer in their 2019 article "Socially-Engineered Trauma and a New Social Work Pedagogy: Socioeducation as a Critical Foundation of Social Work Practice" in the journal, Smith College Studies in Social Work, 89:3-4, 238-263, DOI: 10.1080/00377317.2019.1704146 ).

But it all seems to point to ameliorating symptoms and hoping for/facilitating reforms instead of pointing to a radical break in regimes of oppression and exploitation. Given that consistent inability to imagine class as a structure instead of people or that certain positions in that structure (i.e., a ruling class) need to be done away with instead of just taught to be more empathic and nicer... well, it isn't surprising that Ford and Rockefeller Foundation reports on community-based projects they fund are referenced with no critique. The authors seem to leave incipient psychologies of liberation within a framework that allows dependence on liberal corporate funding streams.

See P43, 132, 134, 135, 149, 162, 176, 184, 186, 187, 199, 208, 209 to wrestle more with these topics.

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liberation psychology is fundamentally concerned with understanding the effects of dominant cultural narratives and power structures on the psychological experience of oppressed and marginalized people.

Liberation psychology aims to understand, amplify, and incorporate in their theory and practice the voices and knowledge of those “others” most affected by the kinds of oppression identified above.

Liberation psychology goes beyond individual therapy, or even group therapeutic approaches, towards community based interventions, that attempt to give language and expression to suppressed, or unexpressed issues of social injustice, for the sake of ethical social change.

Liberation psychology is critical of the individualistic and reductionistic biases and research practices of mainstream psychology, opting for a more collaborative, dialogical and culturally humble research paradigm.

Liberation psychology rejects the mainstream assertion that psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and psychotherapists etc. (aka members of the “psy” complex) as exclusively qualified to conduct research and deliver therapeutic interventions, and seeks to empower and include other types of “culture workers” in this regard, including artists, activists, spiritual teachers and community leaders etc.

Over all.

This book offers a pretty good overview of Liberation Psychology. But it gets a little tedious at times, and I think it could be clearer and tighter in execution. I’m looking forward to future additions to clarify and promote the field.

4/5 stars ⭐️

[Paul Ataua · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Psychologies of Liberation’ starts by criticizing traditional psychology’s focus on the individual’s problems in an accepted not criticized social structure. It then goes on to consider new ‘psychologies’ ( or related disciplines) that focus more on societal change. It is at its best when criticizing psychology’s role in propping up the system and when pointing out the political weight of terms like ‘developing countries’. It was less successful when describing the new psychologies. A little too sketchy for me.

[Gabriel Ceballos franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a master piece that will help us to understand the reality, plain and simple. We are marionettes

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in healing, community arts, ecopsychology, critical psychology, environmental/social justice, and sustainable communities!!!!

[Sylvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely winding and long winded although necessary subject matter.

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate everything about this book and the way it critically talks about liberation movements and struggles. Very very informative and crucial read!! Wonderful source for critical conscientization- and includes depth of resources including BIPOC perspectives. Love the conversations about liminal spaces and "margins". I hope that sections of this book are included in all schools' curriculum!

[Savannah McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful; the beginning is heavy but worth it :)

[Lungstrum Smalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of critical theories and theorists in the fields of liberation, depth, critical and social psychology. Good read for any activist/radical/mental health professional.


One of the most profound problems of the current era is that many people do not have any viable visions of what could be different in their lives and communities. This is a psychological problem sometimes referred to as fatalism, anomie, or symbolic loss: a despairing sense that social networked, valued customs, and shared memories are irretrievably weakened, lost, or forgotten. 2
intro
...in such environments, psychologies of regeneration are needed, ways to imagine rebuilding psychological spaces where one can develop a critical analysis of one’s situation, improvise new practices for the healing of individuals and communities, and recover or create a sense of common purpose and vision. 3

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC BOOK!
This is one of those...if I had only one book on a desert island reads for me...refined how I think about trauma and healing for individuals and communities and the role of art in all of this. FANTASTIC READ!!!

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction into the impact of oppression within society with empowering examples on how everyday citizens are and can reverse internalization of despair and bring back hope in communities affected by collective trauma.

[Karen Hyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The seminal book on liberation psychology and social justice! Actually, one in the same!