Critical Psychology

Modality - Remote, Synchronous

Description: Critical psychology is an approach to psychology that seeks to acknowledge systems of power and their influence over the field/discipline. This course will have three broad modules; we'll begin with an overview and exploration of critical psychology and applying a critical lens to psychology. We'll then move into theories and praxis of liberation psychology, including its origins and how it has developed in psychology. We will conclude the course by discussing feminist psychology and feminist therapy in order to examine how critical theories and approaches have been integrated into mental health therapy. Some major goals of this course will be to understand critiques of mainstream psychology and to position psychology within an interdisciplinary landscape of critical studies (e.g., Critical Race Theory; Queer Theory).

Required Texts: No required texts to purchase. All readings will be uploaded to Canvas.

Credit/Evaluation: Evaluation will include active and engaged participation in class discussions; facilitating discussion about an assigned article; 2 article critiques; and a final literature review on a topic related to critical psychology