The course on community psychology helped me to re-evaluate my understanding of social interventions and their potential effects on the community. As I wrote previously, before taking this course, I believed that an evidence-based approach to addressing problems is the best since they are measurable, reliable, and cost-effective.
I thought that transformational interventions are a myth, and ameliorative interventions are all community psychology has in its arsenal. Community psychology interventions opened a new focus to interventions, as they see beyond the problem. Community psychology aims at addressing the root of many problems, which may not be straightforward but much needed. Thus, my perspective on interventions has changed to favor holistic, transformative ecological interventions during the course.
I also learned that community psychology is not something new. Nelson and Prilleltensky state that the central goals of community psychology, well-being, and liberation, are “the same old goals that humankind has been pursuing for ages.” In this sense, community psychology is only a modern way of promoting these values on the community level. This idea made me realize that it is best to act on the community level rather than on the individual level, as individual interventions may only bring temporary ameliorative effects.
In the future, I will try to use this knowledge to collaborate with community psychologists to transform my community. I will try to participate in projects that address power dynamics and be the driver for change within my community.