This course illustrates the sometimes surprising potency of social influence in a variety of areas. In effect, if not explicitly in intent, work life and income are treated as part of personality theory. This course examines work life and income as both result of individual psychology and major determinant of the life course. Other sources of information in contrast suggest that human beings practically without exception are capable of high levels of achievement given the presence of facilitative conditions. This course examines various sources of evidence which indicate that the non-development of substantial intellectual, artistic, etc.
People have opinions, views, beliefs, convictions, etc.
This course examines sources or systematic bias in the mass media and its consequences for cultural and psychological life. The fundamental phenomenon upon which emancipatory psychology is based is power differentials in society and the psychological consequences of power differentials. The basic insight of emancipatory psychology is that power differentials bring about psychological orientations in both sides which support the arrangement. Clinical psychologists are familiar with this sort of dynamism in disturbed families, but extending the idea to other social realms is virtually by definition an uphill struggle. For example, it seems that the professions of psychology, psychiatry, medicine, sociology etc. were unable on their own to recognize widespread sexual abuse of children in our society.