Critically Compare and Contrast Community Psychology and Public Health Approaches to Social Problems

In this essay, I willing critically differentiate and contrast smart set psychology and populace headness approaches to social chores. I will do this by comparing strengths and weaknesses of both(prenominal) approaches, as well as similarities surrounded by these approaches. To comp be these two concepts, one should low have a basic brain of the origins and historical development of lodge psychology and overt health. correspond to the American inheritance Medical dictionary (www. ahdictionary. om) company psychological science is the finish of psychology to community programs for the measure of psychic health disorders and the promotion of psychological health. residential area psychology has its roots in the psychological health crystallise movements in the USA, according to Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811 (2013). The three most important reform movements were the moral treatment (early 1800s), the mental hygiene (early 1900s) and deinstitutionalisati on (1960s) (Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811).Each of these movements was think to view and treat mental malady as a social problem rather than an one-on-one problem. It was besides a move towards saloon rather than retrieve concerning mental illness. (Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811) check to Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811 (2013) in that respect are two major exemplars of community psychology the Mental Health mildew and the Social action model. The location of mental illness, according to the Mental Health model, is at the method of interaction between one-on-one and environmental factors.The Social Action model places the location of mental illness within oppressive and exploitative social and economic structures (Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811, 2013) usual health, kindred community psychology, foc social functions on prevention of disease. It is delineate as the science and practice of defend and improving the health of a community as b y preventative practice of medicine health education control of catching diseases application of sanitary measures and monitoring of environmental hazards by the American Heritage mental lexicon www. ahdictionary. com) Like community psychology, public health in like manner centeringes less on the person and more on the public and society in general. unrestricted health concerns itself with the prevention of lifestyle diseases, such as join problems, as well as diseases of which the detail can be reduced if the public is educated about it, such as HIV/AIDS and cholera (Tut 102 for PYC4811). unrestricted health, as practised in southward Africa and most industrialized countries, is based on the biomedical/western model of illness.According to this model, the reason for disease and distress (and, in that respectfore, mental illness) is because of lesions within the body or mind. These lesions are caused by an interaction between a. ) The characteristics of the soul (such a s age, educational level, nutritional status, etc), b. ) Disease-causing agents (such as germs, viruses, alcohol, etc) and c. ) External environmental and social issues (such as poverty, war, pollution, etc). (Tutorial letter 102/0/2013for Pyc4811, 2013). According to Marc Zimmerman (http//www. answers. om), there are many similarities between the biotic community Health and Public Health fields, such as their methods, topics, theories and values. Both fields use methods such as advocacy, community organizing, form _or_ system of government influence, and dissemination (Zimmerman, http//www. answers. com). They also both devote theories and conceptual models, such as dominance theory, social change theories and ecological theory. fellowship psychological science concerns itself with cultural issues and differences through the application of theory, research and intervention programs.This is similar to Public Health approaches because these programs are designed to tint the val ues, norms, and beliefs of the community or public, whether the focus is on ethnic, behavioural, gender, or cultural differences. Both Community psychological science and Public Health interpret social relationships and involve the community. Both also consider the external factors when looking at the individuals problems, so as not to solely blame the individual for the problem, and will advocate social rather than individual change. (Perkins, 2011)There are, however, key aspects in which the two approaches differ. While Community Psychology concerns itself more with mental health issues and behavioural aspects of health (such as promiscuity, drug use, etc) , Public Health seems to focus more on traditional health issues, such as communicable diseases (like HIV/AIDS, T. B, etc). The two approaches also differ in the sense that Community Psychology focuses on theory and social research, while Public Health has a more practise-orientated approach to social problems. Zimmerman, http/ /www. answers. com) To conclude, I would not say that these differences are irreconcilable, as the two approaches have more in common than they differ. When dealing with the mental health of the community, I believe that it would be profitable to apply both Community Psychology AND Public Health approaches. Because both approaches focus on prevention and empowerment, as well as community involvement, they can perpetrate each others inadequate comings by using the same principles.