Monday Apr 28, 2025

IP0103 Is it even Psychology's place to promote Social Justice?

CW/TW 01: This episode contains a discussion of the ongoing genocide in Gaza from 00:21:58 to 00:30:16.

CW/TW 02: This episode also contains brief references to sexual assault and queerphobic hate crimes and hate speech from 00:37:24 to 00:42:20.

How do activism and social justice advocacy fit into the scope of practice for mental health professionals? Is it our responsibility? Get up to date with evolving best practices, legal frameworks, and national and international guidelines.

Read a transcript of this episode on intersectionalpsychology.com.

Are you a healthcare provider in need of CPD points? You might prefer to watch a different version of this episode here and then answer a short quiz to earn 2 Clinical CEUs and 1 Ethics CEU, accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

Chapter timestamps

00:00:00-00:04:13 Welcome to this episode of Intersectional Psychology

00:04:14-00:16:09 Framing the question

00:16:10-00:36:58 Psychology's historical missteps

00:36:59-00:43:01 Why intersectionality is essential to psychological practice

00:43:02-00:48:01 Case studies and practical applications

00:48:02-01:02:48 Activism and advocacy

01:02:48-01:14:02 Civil disobedience and systemic change

01:14:03-01:19:20 The challenges and controversies

01:19:21-01:21:10 Making intersectionality non-negotiable

01:21:11-01:23:48 Psychology's role in the bigger picture

01:23:49-01:26:38 End credits

This podcast centres the voices and experiences of marginalised people for an audience that includes many marginalised people. Comments have therefore been disabled on this channel to safeguard the mental health and dignity of our guests and audience. You are, however, welcome to email me at the address on this channel's page if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions.

References

Adams, G., Estrada-Villalta, S., Sullivan, D., & Markus, H.R. (2019). The psychology of neoliberalism and the neoliberalism of psychology. Journal of Social Issues, 75(1), 189–216 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12305 

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Washington: American Psychological Association. Available at: http://www.apa.org/about/policy/multicultural-guidelines.pdf 

American Psychological Association. (2017). Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality. Washington: American Psychological Association. 

American Psychological Association, APA Task Force on Human Rights. (2021). Moving Human Rights to the Forefront of Psychology: The Final Report of the APA Task Force on Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/report-human-rights.pdf 

Bharat, B., Chenneville, T., Gabbidon, K., & Foust, C. (2021). Considerations for psychological research with and for people of color and oppressed intersecting identities in the United States. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 7(4), 363–377 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000285 

Boonzaier, F., & van Niekerk, T. (Eds.). (2019). Decolonial feminist community psychology. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. 

Borgos, A. (2019). Psychology and Politics: Intersections of Science and Ideology in the History of Psy-Sciences. Budapest: Central European University Press.

Brown, J.M., Naser, S.C., Brown Griffin, C., Grapin, S.L., & Proctor, S.L. (2022). A multicultural, gender, and sexually diverse affirming school-based consultation framework. Psychology in the Schools, 59(1), 14–33 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22593

Burnes, T. R., & Christensen, N. P. (2020). Still wanting change, still working for justice: An introduction to the special issue on social justice training in health service psychology. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 14(2), 87–91. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000323 

Canetto, S.S. (2019). Teaching about women and gender from a transnational and intersectional feminist perspective. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 8(3), 144–160 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/ipp0000111 

Cavé, J. (2024) Integrative Brain Based Approach Level I (Training Manual). Johannesburg: Impact Training.

Eaton, A.A., Grzanka P.R., Schlehofer, M.M., Silka, L. (2021) Public psychology: Introduction to the special issue. American Psychology, 76(8), 1209-1216. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000933 

Flynn, A.W.P., Domínguez, S., Jordan, R.A.S., Dyer, R.L., & Young, E.I. (2021). When the political is professional: Civil disobedience in psychology. American Psychology, 76(8), 1217-1231 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000867 

Hailes, H.P., Ceccolini, C.J., Gutowski, E., & Liang, B. (2021). Ethical guidelines for social justice in psychology. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 52(1), 1–11 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000291 

HCPC. (2024). Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. London: UK Health & Care Professions Council. https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics/ 

Health Professions Act 56 of 1974, s. 57 (Act 29/2007). Government Gazette. Available at https://www.gov.za/documents/medical-dental-and-supplementary-health-service-professions-act-16-oct-1974-0000 

Helms, J. E. (2015). A legacy of eugenics underlies racial-group comparisons in intelligence testing. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 5, 176–179 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2012.01426.x 

HPCSA. (2019). Minimum standards for the training of Clinical Psychology. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Clinical_Psychology.pdf 

HPCSA. (2019). Minimum standards for the training of Counselling Psychology. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Counselling_Psychology.pdf 

HPCSA. (2019). Minimum standards for the training of Educational Psychology. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Educational_Psychology.pdf 

HPCSA. (2019). Minimum standards for the training of Industrial Psychology. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Industrial_Psychology.pdf 

HPCSA. (2019). Minimum standards for the training of Registered Counsellor. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Registered_Counsellor.pdf 

HPCSA. (2019). Psychometry: Framework for Education, Training, Registration and Scope of Psychometry. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/psb/guidelines/Minimum_standards_for_the_training_of_Psychometrist.pdf 

HPCSA. (2021). General Ethical Guidelines for the Healthcare Professions (Booklet 1). Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Uploads/professional_practice/ethics/Booklet_1_Guidelines_for_Good_Practice_vDec_2021.pdf 

HPCSA. (2022). Minimum standards for the training of Neuropsychology. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/professional_boards/psb/guidelines/NEUROPSYCHOLOGY_Minimum_standards_19022024.pdf 

HPCSA. (2023). Minimum standards for the training of Research Psychologists. Johannesburg: Health Professions Council of South Africa Professional Board for Psychology [online]. Available at: https://www.hpcsa.co.za/Content/upload/professional_boards/psb/guidelines/Research_Psychology_Minimum_Standards.pdf 

Huminuik, K. (2024). The five connections: A human rights framework for psychologists. International Journal of Psychology, 59(2), 218–224 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12908 

Joyce, P. (1999). A Concise Dictionary of South African Biography. Cape Town: Francolin. pp. 275–276. 

Kessi, S., & Boonzaier, F. (2018). Centre/ing decolonial feminist psychology in Africa. South African Journal of Psychology, 48(3), 299–309 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246318784507 

National Health Act 61 of 2003, s. 37 (Act 12/2013). Government Gazette. Available at https://www.gov.za/documents/national-health-amendment-act 

Neville, H.A., Ruedas-Gracia, N., Lee, B.A., Ogunfemi, N., Maghsoodi, A.H., Mosley, D.V., LaFromboise, T.D., & Fine, M. (2021). The public psychology for liberation training model: A call to transform the discipline. American Psychologist, 76(8), 1248–1265. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000887 

Prilleltensky, I. (2008). The role of power in wellness, oppression, and liberation: The promise of psychopolitical validity. Journal of Community Psychology, 36(2), 116–136 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20225 

Psychological Society of South Africa. (2017). Practice Guidelines For Psychology Professionals Working with Sexually and Gender-Diverse People. Johannesburg: Psychological Society of South Africa.

Regulation of Gatherings Act 205 of 1993, s. 531 (Act 15/2013). Available at: https://www.gov.za/documents/regulation-gatherings-act 

Newson, J.J., Sukhoi, O., Taylor, J., Topalo, O., & Thiagarajan, T.C. (2024) Mental State of the World 2023. Sapien Labs: Global Mind Project [online]. Available at: https://sapienlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4th-Annual-Mental-State-of-the-World-Report.pdf 

Thiagarajan, T. & Newson, J. (2024). The Mental State of the World in 2023: A Perspective on Internet-Enabled Populations. Global Mind Project. 

Yakushko, O. (2019). Eugenics and its evolution in the history of western psychology: A critical archival review. Psychotherapy and Politics International, 17(2), e1495 [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppi.1495 

Comment (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to say something!

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125