Applying psychology in contexts of oppression and marginalisation: Liberation psychology, wellness, and social justice

Abstract

This article provides examples of the application of liberation psychology in contexts of marginalisation and oppression. The focus is on three key assumptions of liberation psychology that are of importance for enhancing wellness and social justice. These are the importance of applying a structural or systemic analysis, of linking psychological patterns to social conditions, and of enhancing agency and action for change. Examples of these principles as they applied in workshops in four contexts are provided, involving, specifically: poverty and deprivation; homophobia and heterosexism; pornography and sexual violence; clinical and counselling psychology and psychotherapy. The presentation provides a short analysis of the first three areas, illustrates the psychological patterns associated with each, and describes possibilities for action and agency. In the fourth area, liberation psychology is applied in the context of training psychotherapists and counsellors, and the implications of liberation psychology for professional practice are considered.