Looking Backward and Moving Forward: Reflections on a Quarter Century of Community Psychology

Abstract

Within the field of psychology, community psychology specifically challenges traditional ways of thinking by considering people as embedded in ecological systems. It also recognizes that the links between persons and settings may be as important as either factor alone. Many of the important writings in this field have been presented in the American Journal of Community Psychology. As such, the intellectual history of community psychology has been presented in this journal. This work contains original research from the first 25 years of the journal, selected to reflect community psychology's rich tradition of theory, empirical research, action, and innovative methods. The articles included reflect both the enduring values of the field and data that sparked the field to move forward. This volume will be of interest to community mental health workers, social science and social work researchers, health care professionals, policy makers, and educators in the fields of community and preventative psychology.