This is by no means an exhaustive list of departments and research groups that do 'critical' work that is relevant to psychology. These are departments and research groups that have been doing work linked to the Discourse Unit with people listed as the contact points who have been helpful to visitors in the past. We have grouped these departments and research groups alphabetically by country, place and institution. Points in the email address for contacts where the letters AT appear, you should replace those letters with AT in order to reconstruct the actual email address (this is to prevent spam web-crawlers from using this site to harvest new names).
Argentina
Buenos Aires (Universidad de Buenos Aires)
Community Social Psychology Group:
The group includes psychologists who are engaged in teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students and doing research in the field of community social psychology at the School of Psychology of the Universidad de Buenos Aires. A Master's degree in Community Social Psychology started in 2002 at the University of Buenos Aires, which includes local students as well as others coming from other Latin America countries. The School of Psychology has an institute for the development of research projects that also publishes two indexed journals, Investigaciones en Psicología and Anuario de Investigaciones , available from the Research Secretary, Faculty of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires. Both journals are included in Latindex and Psicodoc (Unesco, UIPsYS and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid). Members of the group also belong to this institute as researchers, and members of the group develop field intervention projects in the area of health, education, neighborhood and community development.
More information: www.psi.uba.ar / Contact: Susana Seidmann seidmannATpsi.uba.ar
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Catalunya
Barcelona (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona)
Fractalitats en Investigacio Critica (Fractalities in Critical Research)
Social Sciences contribute to the technologies, discourses and knowledge that regulate people and populations. The governmental requirements of liberal democracies need conquering new fields of knowledge and developing more efficient technologies of control. As a response to the proliferation of mechanisms of bio-power, the construction of concepts and research practices offering theoretical and methodological tools becomes politically unavoidable. Multiple perspectives arising from marginal positions become temporal fixations from where to address and resignify present forms of governmentality. Taking multiplicity into account, we use fractals as a metaphor and our research builds concepts that accept the complexity of the social, address irregularities and non-uniform phenomena, connect local and global processes, feels comfortable with fuzziness and indetermination, change with the phenomena, and are located in a fractional dimension between the relative and the real. The research group works as a node among critical positions, queering modern divisions such as inside/outside, masculine/feminine, homo/hetero, research/practice, theory/intervention, local/global, mind/body, or discourse/materiality. It holds periodical discussions, organise seminars on present forms of govermentality and critical possibilities, implements research and political critical practices as a result of articulatory activity, and participate in political activities.
More information: http://seneca.uab.es/fic / Contact: Marisela Montenegro or Joan Pujol, investigacio-critica-lATcc.uab.es
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Chile
Santiago De Chile (ARCIS University)
Critical Perspectives in Social Psychology, Master in Social Psychology, ARCIS University - Autonomous University of Barcelona, Research Program: Body, Esthetics and Social Memory.
Our group is developing a broad investigation program that articulates different research projects on the body, aesthetics and social memory in order to make a critical stand on relevant political issues associated with the construction of memory in Chilean context. These projects aim to use different innovative methodologies that involve the notion of aesthetics and intervention by means of bodily transformations in urban context. The idea is to involve ourselves in the development of new languages for researching and communicating to wider public on topics of social and political relevance in present social context.
More information: http://psicsocial.universidadarcis.cl
Contact: Isabel Piper, isabelpiperATmi.cl or ipiperATuniversidadarcis.cl
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China
Hangzhou (Zhejiang University)
Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies
More information: www.shixu.com / Contact: Shi-xu, xshiATzju.edu.cn
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Colombia
Cali (Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia - Seccional Cali)
Grupo de Estudios Teórico-Prácticos en Psicología Crítica ('PSICOCRI')
Our group was born only in August of 2004, in the middle of the great support that the Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia has decided to give the investigation, and from the impulse generated, in previous semesters by Professor Juan Carlos, to students from the subject of 'Seminar of Investigation' of the Program of Psychology in relation to the Critical Theory of the Society. The group has its foundations in Habermasian, foucaldian and psychoanalytic ideas, and it attempts to make a revision of developments in Critical Psychology in the world releven to Latin American, and thus, to increase the understanding of the problematic areas of activity that face Colombian researchers. We thus investigate present tendencies in Critical Psychology (its different forms) and, without to want to commit themselves to all of them, takes elements from each one of them for 'exegesis'. To facilitate of this analysis we have decided to detect the 'critical categories' of Hegemony, Ideology, Power and Freedom. We also aim to articulate our work with other two policies: 'To contribute to the human, regional development and to the social transformation of country 'and' To foment the innovation and the excellence in the construction and socialization of the knowledge '. Coordinator : Professor Juan Carlos Flórez Buriticá; Participants : Professor Neil Humberto Duque; Students of Last year : Jennifer Soto, Mayra Echeverri and Nathalie Pardo.
More information: http://www.ucc.edu.co / Contact: Juan Carlos Flórez Buriticá, gipsicriticaATcorreoucc.edu.co
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Denmark
Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University, Departments of Psychology)
Outlines: Critical Social Studies
The Outlines is a journal that appears twice a year, and also a network for critical psychology and social theory in Denmark and the Nordic countries. It combines work within cultural-historical activity theory ( www.iscar.org and www.iscar.org/dk) - with poststructuralist and discursive psychology. Often fundamental theoretical issues are directly related to practical matters of political relevance.
More information: www.psy.ku.dk/mnissen / http://www.outlines.dk/editors/Editors.html / www.outlines.dk
Contact: Morten Nissen, morten.nissenATpsy.ku.dk
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England
Bolton (Bolton Institute)
Department of Psychology and Life Sciences
In addition to work centred around the philosophy of psychology, critiques of social constructionism, and feminist research, the department hosts the MSc Critical Psychology by distance learning.
More information: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/pls / http://www.synchrony.plus.com/work/msc/msc.html
Contact: David Nightingale, djn1ATbolton.ac.uk
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England
London (London School of Economics)
Institute of Social Psychology, Critical Psychology research group
The Institute of Social Psychology is a thriving centre for the study of social psychology and has an international reputation for its research in the fields of social representations, health and community, organisations and the media. Founded in 1964, the Institute has one of the largest concentrations of social psychologists in Europe with 13 members of staff and over 190 graduate students enrolled on four specialist Masters programmes or conducting research towards a PhD.
More information: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/socialPsychology / Contact: Derek Hook, d.w.hookATlse.ac.uk
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England
London (University of East London)
Critical Psychology Research Group
The UEL Critical Psychology Group (UELCPG) draws on a range of critical and contextual approaches to address a variety of concerns in Psychology. These include issues relating to gender, 'race' and class; therapeutic and psychiatric practice; health and reproduction; domestic and sexual violence. Distinguishing features of the UEL Critical Psychology Group are: Taking an interdisciplinary approach; Focussing on important social issues with an agenda for social change; Informing teaching and research; Bringing critical psychology theory into practical contexts; Aiming for an accessible rather than arcane approach to critical psychology.
More information: http://www.uel.ac.uk/psychology/research/critsoc.htm / Contact: Dave Harper, d.harperATuel.ac.uk
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England
Manchester (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Discourse Unit
The Discourse Unit supports a variety of qualitative and theoretical research projects contributing to the development of discourse theory in psychology, with the term 'discourse' used primarily in its critical foucauldian and hermeneutic senses to include inquiries influenced by feminism and psychoanalysis. The centre functions: (i) as a teaching resource base for qualitative and feminist work; (ii) as a support unit for the (re)production of radical academic theory; and (iii) as a networking centre for the development of critical perspectives in psychology. The Discourse Unit publishes Annual Review of Critical Psychology , which will be available online as an open access journal from issue number 5.
More information: http://www.discourseunit.com / Contact: Ian Parker, i.a.parkerATmmu.ac.uk
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Germany
Berlin (Free University of Berlin / Freie Universität Berlin )
Research Colloquium on Culture and Psychology
The Research Colloquium aims to act as a forum for the organization and support of research, teaching and other academic activities (public lectures, conferences, publications etc) in the following areas: critical history of psychology and developmental science; cultural studies of social science and psychology; qualitative research in developmental psychology; activity theory and the psychology of L.S. Vygotsky; cultural psychology; the relation between psychology, politics and social movements.
More information: http://www.fu-berlin.de/entwicklungspsychologie
Contact: Dimitris Papadopoulos, papadoATzedat.fu-berlin.de
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Greece
Athens (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences)
Clinical Psychology Section, Department of Psychology
The Clinical Psychology Section is interested in critical aspects ofpsychological treatment with particular emphasis in community psychology and primary care. We run a yearly seminar in critical psychology for undergraduates and are involved in the translation of critical psychology literature into Greek.
Contact: Grigoris Potamianos, gpotamATpanteion.gr
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Mexico
Guadalajara (Universidad de Guadalajara)
PROGIECS (Qualitative Research and Evaluation Program in Health); CUCS (Health Sciences Campus); CEUR (Urban Studies Center); and CUCSH (Social Sciences Campus)
PROGIECS is a transdisciplinary collective of researchers working independently in teaching, workshops in qualitative and participative studies. CEUR is a transdisciplinary center of research focusing on studies and teaching of issues such as urban culture, appropriation of space, loose spaces, urban social psychology. You can visit an electronic version of the Journal of the University of Guadalajara with precis in English to see the 'Dossiers on Qualitative Research and Urban Identity'.
More information: www.cge.udg.mx/revistaudg / www.udg.mx / www.cucs.udg.mx / www.cucsh.udg.mx
Contact: Rosi López, rlopezATcucs.udg.mx
Bernardo Jimenez-Dominguez, bjimdomAThotmail.com / ceurATcencar.udg.mx
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Russia
Izhevsk (Udmurt State University, Udmurt Republic)
Hermeneutic Group
The Hermeneutic Group is the group of collaborators of the Department of Clinic Psychology and Psychoanalysis and the Department of Philosophy. The Hermeneutic Group carries out research within the framework of critical psychology, and uses hermeneutic approaches both in social theory and cognition theory to realize constructionist ideas in psychology and philosophy. The group functions: (i) coordinating the researches within the framework of abovementioned areas; (ii) teaching students; (iii) carrying out the publishing project 'Critical Psychology in Russia'.
Contact: Sergey Sirotkin, ip_fppATudm.ru
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South Africa
Durban (School of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Durban, 4041)
Psychology and Society Programme
The School of Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has a strong critical psychology emphasis, with a range of theoretical and applied interest and projects. We offer a postgraduate degree in critical psychology though our Psychology and Society Masters Programme. We are involved in many broader South African critical psychology projects such as the journal Psychology in Society , the annual Critical Methods Conference, and collaborations with community based organisations on specific social issues such as violence and HIV/AIDS.
More information: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/critpsy / http://www.ukzn.ac.za/psychology/critical
Contact: collinsATukzn.ac.za
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South Africa
Gauteng (University of the Witwatersrand, School of Human and Community Development)
The Critical Social Psychology Group
The Critical social psychology group consists of a team of researchers and practitioners within the field supporting interdisciplinary research contributing to the development of critical theory and practice in psychology, focusing on how specific areas of research intersect, such as HIV/Aids and Violence, and are structured by socio-political factors, and more importantly how psychology can be more engaging with these.
More information: http://www.wits.ac.za/fac/arts/psychology/home.htm / Contact: duncannATumthombo.wits.ac.za
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Spain
Granada (University of Granada, Faculty of Psychology)
Department Development and Educational Psychology
This research group responds to psychology along lines of interpretative-critical, socio-cultural and feminist theory. The group supports a variety of lines of work: Ecological conscience in the childhood and ethnocentrism; school failure and learning from rules/norms related to beliefs and values; Deconstruction of the socio-political role of women in relation to necessity and values. Work in the seminar on gender is used as a teaching resource base for critical work on the social and psychological discrimination of women.
Contact: Dolores Villuendas, mvilluenATugr.es
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Spain
Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología / Faculty of Political Sciences and Sociology)
Cibersomosaguas: Grupo de Investigación de la Cibercultura y los Movimientos Sociales (Cyberculture and Social Movements Research Group)
Cibersomosaguas focuses on the analysis of cyberculture and social movements, with special incidence in socialisation processes, political culture, constitution of virtual identities as well as emerging participation modalities and sociability in the context of information society. (El trabajo de este grupo gira en torno al análisis de la cibercultura y los movimientos sociales, con especial incidencia en aspectos de socialización y grupalidad política, dinámicas de formación de identidades virtuales así como nuevas modalidades de participación y sociabilidad en la sociedad de la información.)
Distribution list address: cibersomosaguasATyahoogroups.com / Contact: Angel J. Gordo López, ajgordolATwanadoo.es
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USA
Nashville (Vanderbilt University)
Community Research and Action Program
The Community Research and Action program is situated in the Department of Human and Organizational Development of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. The program offers a PhD and engages graduate students and faculty members in community research and action seeking to promote social justice, prevent psychosocial problems, and enhance community well-being. Research and action projects take place in local, regional, national, and international settings. The program combines community psychology, critical psychology, and community development approaches to justice and well-being.
More information: http://peabody.vanderbilt.edu/hod/cra.htm
Contact: Isaac Prilleltensky, isaac.prilleltenskyATvanderbilt.edu
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Wales
Cardiff (UWIC)
Qualitative Psychology at UWIC
A number of qualitative projects are underway in the Centre for Psychology that are interested in the articulation of self, identity and subjectivity in different domains. One project looks at the experiences of mature students from a working class background entering higher education. Another project is concerned with responses to media presentations of risk. Approaches employed range from grounded theory to critical discursive analyses.
More information: http://www.uwic.ac.uk/shss/Research04/qualitative.asp / Contact: Dan Heggs, dheggsATuwic.ac.uk