What does Theory & Psychology have to offer community-orientated psychologists?

Abstract

Psychology is awash with different understandings and enactments of relations between theory and action. This article explores coverage in Theory & Psychology of such relations from the perspective of four community psychologists who are seeking insights into how to further integrate our theory, research, practice, and teaching activities. We first consider a dedicated special issue on Theory in Action that exemplifies some of the mental gymnastics evident in efforts to work participatively to address practical problems in theoretically informed ways. Our focus then shifts to what we see as a form of disciplinary reflexivity that we detected regarding issues surrounding theory and action across the broader content of Theory & Psychology. We conclude with further reflections on how insights from the scholarly papers cited resonate with our own critical praxis and efforts to engage with and address complex social problems, and the importance of cultural considerations in such community scholar activism.