Conclusion
In conclusion, I have attempted today to cast the current status of the field of community psychology within the framework of partial paradigm acquisition—to slightly revise Ray Lorion's phrase, of promises kept, and promises still to keep—and have outlined one fledgling perspective which, I hope, will stimulate discussion and debate about the field's future. In focusing on the conceptual connections among community research, the research relationship with citizens, and the training of community psychologists, I have put my money on the unfinished business of integrating the historical values of the field with its research and training efforts. If, when conducting our work, be it as Director of a CMHC, research scientist, social activist, or mental health practitioner, we “see,” we have a world view that focuses on the community-embeddedness of our programs and the persons they are designed to serve, if we develop a perspective that centers on the creation and expansion of resources for our community, and if our actions for the quick fix are embedded in a vision about the long haul, then we can, by both wordand deed, assert both the distinctiveness of community psychology and further the aspirations underlying the creation of our field.
Let me close by sharing with you the only paradigm joke I know. Fortunately, it's on target for my purpose here today. René Descartes is attending a cocktail party and is approached by a waiter. Would you care for a cocktail, Mr. Descartes?, the waiter says. “I think not,” says Descartes, and promptly disappears.
For Descartes, paradigm premises held consequences for ensuing behavior. Let us remember Descartes.
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Presidential address to Division 27, Division of Community Psychology, at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Anaheim, California, August 28, 1983.
Portions of this paper were completed while the author was on sabbatical at Yale's Institution for Social and Policy Studies supported by an award from the University of Maryland's General Research Board. The author wishes to thank both these institutions for creating productive conditions. In addition, thanks are offered to Seymour Sarason, Roger Weissberg, the staff and interns of the Consultation Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, and David Snow, Director, for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Ellie Lehan and Grace Petro provided important and timely editorial and typing support.
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Trickett, E.J. Toward a distinctive community psychology: An ecological metaphor for the conduct of community research and the nature of training. Am J Commun Psychol 12, 261–279 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00896748
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00896748