Introduction
Prilleltensky introduced the concept of psychopolitical validity (2003, 2008) to draw attention to significant gaps in our understanding of well-being and in our efforts to improve it. Historically, psychological and medical sciences ignored the role of psychological and political power in wellness, oppression, and liberation (Prilleltensky, Prilleltensky, & Voorhees, 2007). The term psychopolitical validity was coined to position power issues front and center when it comes to understanding the human experience. The word psychopolitical refers to the unbreakable nexus between political and psychological power in issues of wellness, oppression, and liberation. Power consists of objective and subjective elements, and both types play a role in understanding and changing the human condition. Without an appreciation of the role of power, our explanations reduce complex social phenomena to intrapersonal variables that often devolve into blaming victims for their suffering...
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Prilleltensky, I. (2014). Psychopolitical Validity. In: Teo, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5583-7_250
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