Via: uk.ac.umist.central-services.sun; Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:06:05 +0000
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.psycgrad
Date:         Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:07:37 GMT
              <PSYCGRAD@UOTTAWA.BITNET>
From:         Angel Lopez <lopez@HERA.PSYCHOLOGY.MANCHESTER.AC.UK>
Subject:      PSYCHOLOGY POLITICS RESISTANCE, a call to membership

                      Position Statement

Psychology Politics Resistance is a network of people - both
psychologists and non-psychologist - who are prepared to oppose
the abusive uses of psychology. This means challenging the
ideas within psychology that lead to oppresive practices,
supporting those who are on the receiving end, and using
psychology knowledge positively to help those engaged in
struggles for social justice.
===============================================================
Psychology Politics Resistance has grown out of a number of
conferences and meetings in which psychologists and
non-psychologist have met together in discussion with
individuals and groups who have been silenced and exploited the
name of psychology. These gatherings have made it clear that
there is a need for a new drom of radical psychology
organisation. The aim of our organisation is to ensure that, if
people feel that they are being undermined by psychology, they
know that there is a body that would be prepared to intervene
on their behalf. Or, on a more opositive note, if those involve
in social struggles consider that psychological knowledge
coulkd contribute to their cause then there would be somewhere
they could go for help. We aim to mount practical opposition to
the oppresive uses of psychology. While this will involve
challenging those ideas within psychology which lead to abusive
practices, the aim is to relate ideas to practice rather than
produce radical theory for its own sake.

The effectiveness of Pyschology Politics Resistance dpends upon
thre thiongs. Firstly, we need to build a large network of
people who support our aims - so join immediately and pass
information about the organisation to anyone you know might be
interested!!. (For example, if you are interested it could be
helpful to distribute this message to other people out of
Psycgrad) Secondly, we ned to make ourselves known to those who
may wish to make use of us. In order to do this we are planning
to organise a major founding conference next year to which
people from womens organisations, anti-racist groups, gay and
lesbians organisations, labour organisations and so on will be
invited. Thirdly, we need to consider how to network
information amongst ourselves, how to organise practical
interventions and how to spread our message. These are task to
be decided upon at the founding conference if you can attend
to. Otherwise you can always send your suggestions through e-mails to

lopez@man.psy.ac.uk

who will act as a mediator. Also if you are in UK (or anywere) and you want
to join to the organisation then write to:

Ian Parker,
Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology,
The Manchester Metropolitan University,
Hathersage Rd,
Manchester,
M13 OJA,
U.K.

or to

Steve Reicher,
Department of Psychology,
University of Exeter,
Exeter,
EX4 4QG,
U.K.

Thank you very much,
Psychology Politics Resistance
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU