Positioning the critical in community psychology.

Christian and Political Conservatism Predict Opposition to Sexual and Gender Minority Rights through Support for Christian Hegemony

“…This type of critical research focused on systems of power is needed to raise awareness and to inform action to challenge these systems (Evans, Duckett, Lawthoom, & Kivell, 2017). In this study, grounded in a critical-community psychology perspective that centralizes power and privilege (Evans et al, 2017), we focus on a system of Christian power and privilege in the United States and how this system is linked to opposition to SGM rights (Jones, 2016;Kivel, 2013). In particular, we focus on support for Christian hegemony (i.e., the idea that Christianity should be the norm and Christians should be in power in the United States) and unawareness of Christian privilege (i.e., unearned advantages for Christians) as key factors in explaining why many political and Christian conservatives oppose SGM rights.…”

“…In the current study, we add to this literature by focusing on support for Christian hegemony and unawareness of Christian privilege as new variables that help to explain the association between political and Christian conservatism and opposition to SGM rights (i.e., same-sex marriage and adoption, nondiscrimination policies, and transgender public bathroom use). Examining variables that directly relate to systems of power and privilege flows from our critical-community theoretical perspective (Evans et al, 2017) where we conceptualize support for Christian hegemony and unawareness of Christian privilege as variables that point to a system of Christian power and privilege in the United States. This inquiry is in line with calls from community psychology (e.g., Evans et al, 2017), the sociology of religion (Edgell, 2017), and psychology more broadly (Teo, 2015) to conduct critical research that shines light on how systems of privilege and power are linked to oppression.…”

“…Examining variables that directly relate to systems of power and privilege flows from our critical-community theoretical perspective (Evans et al, 2017) where we conceptualize support for Christian hegemony and unawareness of Christian privilege as variables that point to a system of Christian power and privilege in the United States. This inquiry is in line with calls from community psychology (e.g., Evans et al, 2017), the sociology of religion (Edgell, 2017), and psychology more broadly (Teo, 2015) to conduct critical research that shines light on how systems of privilege and power are linked to oppression. We also hope this research raises awareness about systems of power that maintain the oppression of SGMs and that it furthermore contributes to the larger discussion on dismantling systems of Christian power and privilege that reify oppression of SGMs.…”

Community Power Structure Analysis and the Ethical Considerations of “Studying Up”

“…Rappaport () argued 40 years ago that the future of CP requires addressing the “conflict between individual liberty and social good” (p. viii). It is imperative that CP continues to align an ethic of justice with our already well‐articulated definition of social justice (Evans, Duckett, Lawthom, & Kivell, ; Evans, Rosen, & Nelson, ; Prilleltensky, ; Prilleltensky & Nelson, ) to inform a social ethic in our professional guidelines. Engaging in new and critical methods of “studying up” that provide better access to those in power—creating a more “just” distribution of risks and benefits—will be an important contribution to Community Psychology's ability to move from the individual to social in our research and action.…”

Leading the Way on Diversity: Community Psychology's Evolution from Invisible to Individual to Contextual

“…In addition, our field can expand our repertoire by learning from other disciplines about methods for incorporating multiple realities (e.g., Shiell & Riley, ), an emphasis that challenges the more common press—particularly in research—to distill social phenomena into singular interpretations (i.e., what “is really” going on here). Honoring the ways in which one's social location influences one's life experience is supported by liberation and critical theory (Dutta & Aber, in press; Evans, Duckett, Lawthom & Kivell, ; Montero, Sonn & Burton, ) as well as integral to a social ecological analysis (e.g., Bond, ; Hawe, ; Kingry‐Westergaard & Kelly, ). It is people's experience of events—shaped by their intersecting social locations—that determines their responses, resistance, and adaptation.…”