Why theory matters: Analytical strategies of Critical Psychology

Abstract

Estudos de Psicologia I Campinas I 32(3) I 533-545 I julho -setembro 2015 AbstractBased on Critical Psychology from the Standpoint of the Subject the article describes analytical concerns and strategies of critical psychology. In a first step, the development of critical psychologies is located in current discussions on the production of knowledge, and three different typical approaches and major steps toward situated critique as a practice of mutual recognition are delineated. This shift, it is argued, has led to a historically new relevance of critique, and two basic analytical elements of critical research are introduced: Everyday conflictuality as the initiating moment of critique as well as the importance of theory for critical inquiry. On this basis a variety of analytic strategies and concepts are presented which inform Critical Psychology from the Standpoint of the Subject and suggest a constituent move from partial perspectives toward situated generalization.Keywords: Critical Psychology; Psychological theories; Subjectivity. Although throughout the history of the sciences critique has played an essential role in the development of knowledge, it remains a struggle for post-1945 conventional Western psychology until today to incorporate the potential of critique into its theory, methodology and research practice. Resumo O artigo descreve preocupações e estratégias analíticas da Psicologia Crítica com base na Psicologia Crítica sob o Ponto de Vista do Sujeito. O primeiro passo consiste em situar o desenvolvimento das psicologias críticas nas discussões atuais sobre a produção de conhecimento e delinear três abordagens típicas diferentes e passos principais para

Recognition Struggles of Young Danes Under the Work First Paradigm - a Study of Restricted and Generalised Agency

“…We explore how they engage in agency to promote more positive self-identification, conceptualised as recognition struggles in relation to the unemployment system. An integrated theory of human subjectivity, critical psychology sets out to capture the complexity and conflictual understanding of everyday living (Sieland, forthcoming , p. 145; Schraube, 2013 , 2015 , 2016 ). It underlines the dual possibilities of action, as individuals must constantly decide between ‘expanding possibilities in order to reach longer-term pursuits or acting under given possibilities and restricting pursuits of longer-term interests’ (Sieland, forthcoming , p. 97).…”

“…The first refers to perceived possibilities, limitations and motivations for action, as individuals have reasons to both challenge certain conditions in order to further their interests, or to accommodate and reproduce the given possibilities, e.g. if the risk of conflict with power might undermine long-term interests (Schraube, 2015 , p. 541): ‘The restrictive aspect refers to a narrowing in of engagements followed by created or extended suffering or conflict in our living’ (Sieland, forthcoming , p. 135). It also refers to being stuck or trapped and generally means that conflictual circumstances are upheld and not transgressed.…”

Theorizing in psychology: From the critique of ahyper-scienceto conceptualizing subjectivity

“…Yet, such ideas have not sufficiently theorized the constitutive social dimension in human subjectivity, because they have not been able to articulate the role of agency when it comes to the structural premises of human action (Holzkamp, 1983). A first step is taken in suggesting the development of the concept of sociosubjectivity, which is not only a concept but already entails a theory (see also Schraube, 2015). One could also develop concepts such as sociointentionality , which suggest that mental phenomena make reference to “objects” that have sociohistorical meaning.…”

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“…Diante disso, os espaços de formação que incluem a leitura crítica da realidade como exigência básica para o exercício profissional, em uma relação dialética com fundamentos teóricos da prática, acabam por contribuir para a consolidação de outros modelos de formação profissional os quais permitem sempre o questionamento e a proposição de novas ações. Supervisionar uma prática não trata apenas de ensinar a aplicar técnicas do trabalho profissional, mas, mais do que tudo, a permitir que estagiários consigam ler a realidade para além da aparência e que possam, por meio de estratégias analíticas, tal como nos aponta Schraube (2015), integrar teorias e realidade, para assim questioná-las e modificá-las.…”