Sensing that the gap between rhetoric and action is as present in critical psychology as it is in other critical fields, the authors invite us to join community members in social action and to try harder to solicit the participation of those with less privileged backgrounds. In a field defined by a critical attitude, Rappaport and Stewart caution us not to become elitist and self-righteous. Expanding on this book's emphasis on acknowledging dilemmas, they caution us against too much certainty in our own positions. Comfort with our new conception of psychology can make us stop questioning our own assumptions. We should be explicit about our values and our subjectivity.
Individuals are part of systems and systems are made up of individuals.
It makes no sense to talk about people out of context. Conversely, it makes no sense to talk about systems without reference to real people. But we should not forget the individual, who remains both the subject of oppression and the hero of emancipation.