This paper will suggest how a psychogeographical methodology can be developed as a new method for feminist psychologists, in the study of urban and rural environments. One of the limitations of situationist psychogeography is its grounding in the male gaze. In addition, men have had privileged access to and time to participate in such activities. Drawing on Feminist geography, Queer theory and Gay/Lesbian writing, core concepts such as embodied subjectivity and heteronormativity can be used to develop the theoretical base of a feminist psychogeographical methodology. In this paper I will outline how feminist psychogeographical research might be conducted; the 'situationist' approach of using bodies as research 'instruments' means that innovative data may be gathered through the experience of walking and seeing the world through the situationist lens. Finally, the implications of this work for personal and political social transformation will be addressed. Key words: Psychogeography, situationism, feminism and walkingIn recent times, psychological research has begun to study the signification and experience of the visual world and urban environments (Reavey, 2011;Dixon and Durrheim, 2000;Hook, 2007). However, one of the key limitations of such research has been a lack of consideration of the extent to which research can create radical social change. Moreover, critical academic research (critical psychology, for example) has largely tended to be detached from activist work and practice and has adopted a somewhat apolitical vision of radical change (Bridger: 2010;Hayes, 2003). One of the key strengths of situationist work is that it draws together activism, art and theoretical knowledge to consider the analysis and critique of environments in modern society.However, there has been limited theoretical and empirical work on situationism and psychogeography within the disciplines of psychology, geography, Feminism, Gay/Queer/Lesbian studies and Cultural Studies. The majority of published research on situationism and psychogeography focuses on providing historical overviews of the development of situationist theory and practice (see for example, McDonough, 2009;Plant, 1992;Sadler, 1998). In this paper, I argue that there is potential value in a situationist approach for feminist psychologists, producing innovative methods and new kinds of data. I will therefore now turn to the work of the situationists and consider how their work could inform feminist psychogeographical methods of investigation in psychology.The situationists were a group of radical poets, artists and writers who were concerned with how environments affect how people feel and behave. In particular, they criticised the gentrification of urban environments in capitalist societies. In the late 1950s and early 1960s they developed a practice called psychogeography, which 'could set for itself the study of the precise law and specific effects of the geographical environment consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviours of individuals ...
Research evidence suggests that professional players across a variety of sports may be at greater risk of developing addictions and other mental illnesses than the general population, both during and post-career. In this paper, we report findings from a larger project on the experiences of career transition in UK professional footballers that provide some insight into this. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological approach, four ex-professional footballers who were attending the Sporting Chance Clinic for help with problems concerning alcohol and gambling were interviewed in depth about their experiences. Focussing on issues the players perceived to be relevant to their addictions, the data were analysed thematically, drawing on Van Manen's phenomenological method, and individual case histories were also produced. The analysis suggested that club culture was key to understanding the players' difficulties; a harsh, unsupportive psychological environment combined with expectations of manliness resulted in a culture of silence in the face of personal difficulties. Relationships within the culture of profootball were fraught with anxiety and distrust, leaving the players feeling unable and unwilling to disclose their problems and feeling used and unvalued by their managers. The lack of supportive relationships in their clubs also resulted in loneliness and social withdrawal for the 2 participants. We conclude with a number of recommendations for the governing bodies in professional football, clubs and individual players.
The study of social environments is a neglected site of research not only in psychology, but across academic disciplines ranging from human geography to cultural studies. This paper will review contributions to studying social environments through academic writings, situationism and psychogeographical groups. It will be argued that disorientating walking practices can be used as a means to reflect on experiences of places in order to begin to think how social environments could be radically changed. It is important to question the taken for granted ways that people make sense of urban environments. It is argued that psychogeographic practice can be used to extend qualitative epistemologies and methods to argue for a 'turn to place' in psychology and to open up new methods and approaches in critical psychology. Finally, the implications for radicalising critical psychological research methods will be considered in relation to the current status of critical psychology, which suffers from an apathetic vision of radicalism and criticality.
In this paper we theorise a situationist psychogeographical community group work project, conducted with members of an arts and health organization. Using creative ways to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals, we draw on the concepts of trace and spaces both to map relationships between researchers and group members and project implications. This project was driven by three aims which were:to do community group-work in order to produce contributions both inside and outside of the University; to use a psychogeographical approach to playfully critique everyday life in consumer capitalist society and finally, to consider the extent to which wider personal and political changes could be enabled. To realise these aims, we put into practice a range of architectural, critical community psychological and psychogeographical methods including photo-elicitation, dice walking and site specific investigations. We also facilitated participatory workshops via the creation of artistic and reflective maps and writing poems and stories. Reflections from all the stakeholders, conclusions and implications of this work are considered in terms of individual, group and societal changes. We argue for more psychogeographically inspired work.
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