Critical Psychology Praxis: Psychosocial Non-Alignment to Modernity/Coloniality

by Robert K Beshara (Editor)

This collection of chapters advances critical psychology by incorporating praxis (theory and practice) and decolonial streams of thought. They are united around a theme of psychosocial non-alignment to modernity/coloniality. Bringing together a transdisciplinary range of authors from around the world, this edited volume weaves together a spectrum of complex arguments and perspectives to lay the foundations for bridging the Global North–South divide in critical psychology through solidarity and dialogue. The book’s central argument is to emphasize praxis and transdisciplinarity over disciplinary fundamentalism. Psychology is only a starting point and not the end goal of critique in this book; incidentally, some of the authors are not even psychologists. Instead, the book draws on decolonial theoretical resources, such as Chican@ Studies, Black Male Studies, and Critical Pedagogy, to complement traditional theoretical resources like psychoanalysis, Marxism, poststructuralism, and feminism. This groundbreaking text is suitable for scholars and upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students studying critical discourse, the psychology and philosophy of post-coloniality, conceptual and historical issues in psychology, as well as anthropology and sociology courses engaging with action research.

184 pages, ebook

Published February 15, 2021

Reviews

[Kelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Psychology Praxis edited by Robert K. Beshara is a very thought provoking, and atmospheric book that highlights the numerous changes psychological professions had before formalising the disciplines up to the last four years.
The inception of Eugenics, Phrenology and Scientific Racism is one of the finest case studies to demonstrate what not to decide to implement as frameworks and models Providing a chilling and stark message throughout to never forget past harms in history lest we make the same mistakes. Beshara’s collaborative work challenges previous harmful practises with a critical lens and keen eye suggesting this is an emotionally poignant and striking lesson in scientific history.
This is an excellent book that widens the lens between Psychology sub-disciplines and has an integrative approach that intersects with Critical Discursive Psychology, Feminism, Black Male Studies, Post Colonialism, Anthropology as well as Critical Pedagogy. This is a culmination of more than one author which is guaranteed to leave you with more questions than answers from the significant ground this approach has made in critiquing modern psychology.