Community Psychology: Why this Gap in Britain?

Abstract

Community psychology has developed in other parts of the world, but not in the UK. We contrast the development of psychology, in its wider social context, between 1960 and 1980 in the UK and the USA, in order to try to understand some of the reasons for the absence of community psychology in the UK A scheme of enquiry is proposed which includes exploration of the different social policy contexts; ways in which the ideological and theoretical character ofpsychology equipped psychologists to use opportunities arising in the broader social context; analysis of the availability of appropriately oriented psychology graduates; and the relative absence of other community orientated workers. It is argued that each of these factors illuminates key differences between the USA and the UK in terms of the development of community psychology. It is suggested that contemporary social conditions in the UK may facilitate moves towards a more community-focused psychology.