Psy 423. Community Psychology:

Toward a General Theory of Sustainable Community Development

Learning Objectives & Readings

Core readings are available at North Light Books in Cotati.

Part A. The Epistemological Foundations of Community Life

• Understand cultures, institutions, and communities as systemic strategies for meeting human needs.
• Develop an experiential understanding of community psychology, with particular reference to learning or knowledge communities.
• Understand basic concepts:
• Levels of Being: m+x+y+z
• Phenomenology/Perception
• Interpretation
• Experience, Consciousness
• First, second, third person points of view
• Subjectivity, Intersubjectivity, Objectivity
• Community/Society (Gemeinschaft/Gessellschaft)
• Mythos, Logos
• Culture

Core Reading: E. F. Schumacher, A Guide for the Perplexed.

Required: Arthur Warmoth. “Community Learning: What the 60s Have to Say to the 90s”at http://www.sonoma.edu/users/w/warmotha/awcommunitylearning.htm 

Recommended: Arthur Warmoth, "Prologue to the Study of the Social Construction of Social Reality" & "Phenomenology: the Study of Consciousness" (class handouts)

Part B. Sustainable Community Economics (Complementary Economics)

• Understand the magnitude of the economic impact of the Electronic and Information Processing Technology Revolution
• Understand the relationship between the satisfaction of human needs and the meaning of wealth/well-being
• Understand basic concepts:

• Five forms of capital: human, social, natural, built, financial
• Triple Bottom Line Accounting: Natural, Social, Economic
• Sustainability
• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Market Economics
• The Economics of the Commons
• Money as an agreement
• Co-Production
• The Core Economy
• Complementary Currencies
• Mutual Credit Currencies
• Time Banking

• Understand the significance of the two functions of money: Medium of Exchange and Store of Value
• Understand the relationship between political goals, economic policies, and government finance (taxing and spending)

Core Reading: Mark Anielski, The Economics of Happiness.

Recommended: Edgar Cahn, No More Throw-Away People (On Library Reserve)

Part C. The Politics of Healthy Communities

• Develop an understanding of and appreciation for successful strategies for democratic community development
• Understand basic concepts

• Systems Theory, Human Systems
• Knowledge Networks
• Social Networks
• Strategic Thinking
• Community Investment (Long term goals)
• Knowledge Holders
• Stakeholders
• Community Strengths
• Past-Present-Future Continuum
• Leadershiip

Core Reading: Suzanne Morse, Smart Communities.

Part D. Applied Community Psychology

• Synthesize your understanding of the basic concepts of the class and apply them to a significant practical situation

Assignment: Contracted Community Action Research Project. Some Options:

· Creative Exchange: A Community Capital Cooperative Model

· Academic Planning for Sonoma State University

· Individual Research Project

· Group Research Project

· Work-Related Research Project

Psychology Department Learning Goals

This course addresses the following Psychology Department Learning Goals & Objectives:

Goal 3. Students should have interpersonal, social and cultural awareness and skills.

Objectives:

3a. Demonstrate knowledge of the differences and similarities in the way people are treated due to gender, race, ethnicity, culture, class, disabilities and sexual orientation.

3b. Demonstrate the capacity to reflect on one’s cultural identity (and an awareness of how implicit cultural assumptions color our behavior.)

3c. Demonstrate communication skills; perspective taking, empathic interaction and assertive combination.

Goal 4. Students should understand the development of the self and others as a continuing learning process.

Objectives:

4a. Demonstrate an ability to move from one theoretical perspective to another perspective.

4b. Identify their personal values.

4c. Collaborate as a team or community member.

4d. Demonstrate an ability for reflective thinking.