Psychology's Contributions to Anti-Blackness in the United States within Psychological Research, Criminal Justice, and Mental Health

Author:

Auguste EvanORCID,Bowdring Molly AnneORCID,Kasparek Steven WilliamORCID,McPhee Jeanne,Tabachnick AlexandraORCID,Tung IreneORCID,Galán ChardéeORCID

Abstract

The mass incarceration of Black people in the United States is gaining attention as a public health crisis with extreme mental health implications. Although it is well-documented that historical efforts to oppress and control Black people in the United States helped shape definitions of mental illness and crime, many psychologists are unaware of the ways our field has contributed to the conception and perpetuation of anti-Blackness and, consequently, the mass incarceration of Black people. In this paper, we draw from existing theory and empirical evidence to demonstrate historical and contemporary examples of psychology’s oppression of Black people through research and clinical practices and consider how this history directly contradicts the American Psychological Association (APA)’s ethics code. First, we outline how anti-Blackness informed the history of psychological diagnoses and research. Next, we discuss how contemporary systems of forensic practice, including assessment and treatment approaches informed by psychological research, maintain historical harm. Specific recommendations highlight strategies for interrupting the criminalization of Blackness and offer example steps psychologists can take to redefine psychology’s relationship with justice. We conclude by calling on psychologists to recognize our unique power and responsibility to interrupt the criminalization and pathologizing of Blackness as researchers and mental health providers.

Publisher

Center for Open Science

Cited by 2 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3