The Public Psychology for Liberation Training Model: A Call to Transform the Discipline

Written against the backdrop of the 2020 twin pandemics of a global health crisis and greater national awareness of structural racism, this article issues a call for psychology to invest in training all psychologists to respond to the social ills of racial and other forms of oppression. We introduce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American psychologist 2021-11, Vol.76 (8), p.1248-1265
Main Authors: Neville, Helen A., Ruedas-Gracia, Nidia, Lee, B. Andi, Ogunfemi, Nimot, Maghsoodi, Amir H., Mosley, Della V., LaFromboise, Teresa D., Fine, Michelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cultural Sensitivity
Emancipation
Equity
Healing
Human
Humans
Humility
Marginalization
Models, Psychological
Oppression
Pandemics
Psychology
Social Issues
Sympathy
Systemic racism
Training
Translation
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Summary:Written against the backdrop of the 2020 twin pandemics of a global health crisis and greater national awareness of structural racism, this article issues a call for psychology to invest in training all psychologists to respond to the social ills of racial and other forms of oppression. We introduce a public psychology for liberation (PPL) training model. Essentially, the model reflects a science, a pedagogical commitment, and practice of, by, and with the people who have been most marginalized in society. The PPL consists of five foundational domains or cross-cutting areas of expertise (e.g., facilitate human relationships; generate reciprocal knowledge and translation) and 10 interrelated lifelong practices (e.g., cultural humility; care and compassion) that foster healing and equity. The model centers the perspectives of the Global Majority, focuses on radical healing and equity, and emphasizes a developmental, culturally grounded, strengths-based approach to training. Various training initiatives consistent with a public psychology for liberation approach are presented. Public Significance Statement We propose the public psychology for liberation training model as one mechanism to assist the discipline in contributing to (a) the solutions to fundamental problems in society such as racism and other forms of exploitation and oppression and (b) the promotion of justice for all members in society. The model incorporates the development of five foundational domains or areas of expertise and 10 lifelong practices designed that can be applied to most professional roles.
ISSN:0003-066X
1935-990X
DOI:10.1037/amp0000887