New Wave of Context: Introduction to the Special Issue on Socioecological Approaches to Psychology

Abstract

Socioecological approaches to psychology are broadly applicable to several pressing societal issues. Through a more comprehensive account of contextual processes that unfold at various ecological levels over the life course, these approaches can enhance ecological validity, facilitate knowledge translation, and expedite the transition to a future where equity is central to psychological science. This special issue of Translational Issues in Psychological Science explores how socioecological approaches can be used to address societal inequity in various domains (e.g., mental and physical health, education, and juvenile justice) with cutting-edge methodological techniques that account for complexity in multilevel systems. The articles included in this special issue exemplify what is possible when psychological research moves beyond individual perceptions and intrapsychic processes to explore outcomes as a function of the dynamic interplay between a person and their environment. If psychological science is more sensitive to the contextual factors that drive human behavior, then research will more accurately reflect real-world settings, translation to practice will be more impactful, and interventions will be better positioned to reduce systemic inequities.