PS282 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Community Psychology, Community Organizing, Job Satisfaction
Document Summary
Community psychology focuses on the community contexts of behaviour. It is an expansion of the definition of what are appropriate topics for psychological study and intervention. Interested in effective ways to prevent problems rather than treat them after they arise. Research on factors at the neighbourhood, community, and societal level that support or impede healthy development rather than internal psychological processes or biological factors. Approaches are widely adopted but as a field it is not well known. The single most important factor contributing to homelessness is a lack of affordable housing. Best predictor of the extent of homelessness in a community is the ratio of available, affordable housing units to the number of persons and families seeking them. Focused on how homeless persons are different from those with housing. Listing factors such as substance abuse, mental illness and domestic violence as the main causes of homelessness.
