Community Psychology

Community Psychology focuses on advancing theory, research, and social action to resolve contemporary social problems. Faculty in this specialization work to promote healthy communities and prevent problems experienced by diverse communities, groups, and individuals. Special attention is paid to the context in which social problems occur and the development of research and interventions that address problems at multiple levels of analysis. Community Psychology faculty in our department are currently working on research to address a variety of social issues and with a variety of populations, including:

• culturally grounded interventions - exploring and identifying key cultural beliefs and norms that impact health behavior; integrating knowledge about culture into the development of intervention programs and initiatives
• sexual health - promoting congruence between individual and cultural values regarding sexual behavior and actual sexual activity; preventing transmission of sexually transmitted infections; facilitating positive body image and healthy sexual relationships
• substance abuse - developing community-based interventions for substance abuse and related health problems; addressing needs of homeless drug abusers
• violence against women - social reactions toward rape victims; cultural definitions of rape; rape prevention programs; rape resistance; legal advocacy for domestic violence victims; community education

Faculty Involved in Community Psychology:

Courtney Ahrens - disclosure of rape; rape prevention; legal advocacy; community education

Dennis Fisher - drug abuse, substance abuse, infectious disease

Pat Rozee - rape prevention and resistance; violence against women; community-based approaches to teaching and learning

Bianca Wilson - culture, oppression and identity in health behaviors and health care access; sexual health and health promotion research in ethnic and sexual minority communities