Beyond Adaptation: The Unity of Personal and Social Change in Critical Psychology and Cultural-Historical Theory(4 (Post-)Critical Global Childhood & Youth Studies)

This book discusses transformative approaches to psychology, social work, and education. Addressing these disciplines’ entanglements with oppressive structures, the contributors aim to reconcile individual support with social justice. In current times of accelerating crises, professionals often see only few opportunities to influence the conditions of their work. Thinking and acting beyond adaptation, authors from seven countries provide inspiration for researchers, practitioners, and students who want to be more than brokers of a broken system. Cultural-Historical Theory is a powerful framework that can depict the dynamic of individual minds in society. Building on this, Critical Psychology has formulated an elaborate theory of human agency. Linking individual and social change needs such theorizing. This volume is a rare intellectual exchange by scholars drawing on these traditions. An alternative to both control science and abstract criticism, it inquires the capacity to act. The editors took part in organizing the Summer School Critical Psychology in Berlin, which inspired this volume.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures – (Post-)Critical Global Childhood & Youth Studies: A Note from the Book Series Editors – Introduction – Athanasios Marvakis: Double Functionality of Psychosocial Solidarity – Martin Dege: Commentary on Double Functionality of Psychosocial Solidarity – Michael Zander: Collective Intentionality: Michael Tomasello’s Comparative Developmental Psychology and Its Significance for Critical Psychology – Maria Falikman: Commentary on Collective Intentionality – Daniel Magalhães Goulart: Subjectivity from a Cultural-Historical Perspective: González Rey’s Contribution to Build a Critical-Propositional Approach – Peter Busch-Jensen: Commentary on Subjectivity from a Cultural-Historical Perspective – Yrjö Engeström/Annalisa Sannino: Going beyond Criticality: Transformative Agency for Enacted Utopias in Social Movements and Grassroot Cooperatives – Johanna Ruge: Commentary on Going beyond Criticality – Eileen Wengemuth/Sigga Waleng: On the Challenges of Conducting Critical-Psychological Co-research in Neoliberal Academia – Eduardo Vianna: Commentary on On the Challenges of Doing Critical-Psychological Co-research in Neoliberal Academia – Fernanda Coelho Liberali: Curriculum De-encapsulation as a Decolonial Instrument to Develop Good Living in Brazil – Jan Niggemann: Commentary on Curriculum De-encapsulation as a Decolonial Instrument to Develop Good Living in Brazil – Eduardo Vianna/Rafael Costa: Demedicalizing Anger and Re-politicizing Rage in Foster Care: Toward a Transformative Activist Approach to Mental Health – Grete Erckmann: Commentary on Demedicalizing Anger and Re-politicizing Rage in Foster Care – Youli Tsirtoglou: Exploring the Relevance of Critical Psychology for Psychotherapy in Greece: Contrasting Practices of Psychological Support in the Free Market and in Social Movements – Rafael Costa: Commentary on Exploring the Relevance of Critical Psychology for Psychotherapy in Greece – Till Manderbach/Leonie Knebel: Work, Mental Health, and Rehabilitation. Going Beyond the Reductionism in Neoliberal, Postmodern, and Social Democratic Accounts: A Critical Psychology Perspective – Yrjö Engeström/Annalisa Sannino: Commentary on Work, Mental Health and Rehabilitation – Biographical Information of Editors and Authors – Index.

About the Author :
Till Manderbach has been working on the rehabilitation of individuals with mental health problems both in psychological counseling and as a research associate. He holds a M.Sc. and B.Sc. in psychology from the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. Johanna Ruge works in the fi eld of higher education research and teacher education. Currently, she is a research associate at Heidelberg University of Education. She holds a Diploma in Psychology from the Freie Universität Berlin. Peter Brook is a research associate at Brandenburg Medical School, Germany, where he works in psychiatry and psychotherapy research. He holds a M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Psychology from the Psychological University Berlin and University of Hagen. Eileen Wengemuth is a research associate at Brandenburg Medical School, Germany, where she works in health care research on rehabilitation. She holds a doctorate and a diploma in psychology from University of Marburg. Her doctoral research focused on critique of neuroscience. Sigga Waleng researches punishment and exclusion in the school system as a PhD-student. She is M.Sc. and B.Sc. in psychology from University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She taught seminars, supervised student projects, and runs a study circle on critical psychology(ies).

Review :
This rare and important book presents contributions from the closely related critical approaches of Critical Psychology and Cultural Historical Theory in Europe and the Americas. Many chapters present research projects which throw light on ongoing changes in the social practices of research, education, social work, etc. Because the theories and projects focus on social practices and changes therein and thereof, they also offer researchers, professional practitioners and the people they serve means to comprehend such changes and to bring them about. It is, in short, a volume in support of social critique and change. Ole Dreier Professor emeritus of Psychology, University of Copenhagen This excellent work was compiled by a new generation of ingenious editors. Dialogically organized and containing chapters and commentaries by leading researchers, the book moves our focus from what happens to what is possible in developing mental life and human activity. Thoughtfully advanced and providing a fresh perspective on agency, this volume opens new ways of thinking and doing for cultural-historical and critical psychologists and beyond. Thomas Teo Professor of Psychology, York University