Psychology 348 Week 6

Empowerment (Julian Rappaport, 1987)

a mechanism through which individuals, organisations, and communities gain mastery over their own affairs

Critical conscientisation (Paulo Freire, 1973)

a process of developing a deep understanding of the world and the social and political contradictions within it

Freire’s Three Progressive Steps to Empowerment

Conscientising (power within)

Inspiring (power with others)

Liberating (power to bring about change)

Conscientising

developing an internal awareness of one’s own dignity and the structures of oppression

Inspiring

building solidarity and collective strength by connecting with others who share similar experiences

Liberating

exercising the collective agency required to transform oppressive social conditions

Core characteristics of empowerment

multidimensional

multi-level

process and outcomes

fluid and dynamic

Empowerment as multi-dimensional

involves psychological, social, and political components

Empowerment as multi-level

occurs at individual, organisational/community, and societal levels

Empowerment as a process and outcome

both the journey of gaining control and the result of having attained it

Empowerment as fluid and dynamic

can change over time depending on the context and available resources

Two core components of psychological empowerment

critical awareness

participatory competence

Critical awareness

awareness of one’s position in community processes, viewing injustices as social irregularities rather than normal, and believing that change is possible through citizen contribution

development of critical awareness

grows through relationships, reflection on lived experiences, and mentorship

Participatory competence

the acquisition of behavioural skills needed to participate effectively in community decisions

Key skills of participatory competence

describing problems

advocating for views

building collaborative teams

mobilising resources

managing conflict

planning for change

Microlevels tools for empowerment

humanistic psychotherapy and behavioural skills training

Microlevel strategies for empowerment

self-control strategies to help individuals change their behaviour and take control over their immediate environment

Mesolevel (systems) empowerment

focuses on organisations and communities. involves group actions, human rights mobilisation, and self-help groups where members become aware of their collective power to obtain resources

Societal/Macrolevel Empowerment

power at this level works top-down, moving from distal to proximal

Community-Based Participatory research

collaborative research paradigm that equitably involves researchers and community members to combine knowledge and action for social change

The 3-step CBPR model

building engagement and ownership

cultural insiders

trust and capacity building

Social Capital Framework

Bonding social capital

bridging social capital

linking social capital