PSYCC 506 - Adlerian Psychology: Community

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Adlerian Psychology takes an ecological approach to human functioning, focusing on health and wellness in the interaction between individuals and larger social systems. Dysfunction results from not having a well-developed sense of social interest and connectedness which leads to a misguided notion of place and withdrawal from effective functioning in work, social relations, and intimacy. This area of psychology is also primarily concerned with strength-based interventions and strategies that encourage collaboration across multiple systems and disciplines. In this course, students will explore the impact of Adlerian principles on quality of life for individuals, communities and systems within diverse global communities. Students in this course will analyze contributions of Adlerian Psychology in a holistic system including social interest/community feeling, belonging, functioning horizontally versus vertically, collaboration, inclusion, shared responsibility, shared commitment, mutual respect, shared ownership and problem solving, and the role of phenomenology in the creation of individual and collective mental models. Students will explore theory and research on community applications of Adlerian Psychology as they address problems related to a range of pervasive social issues that impact the health and welfare of individuals, communities, and systems. This course will also include a consideration of intervention strategies that involve community needs assessment, program development and evaluation, community organizing, activism, fundraising, and policy analysis.