UCI Researcher an Active Participant at Biennial Conference
Assistant Professor Stephanie Reich presented at the 2009 biennial meeting of the Society for Community Research and Action: "Networking Does Not Equal Community: Adolescent Use of MySpace and Facebook." In addition to presenting, Dr. Reich served as chair, co-chair, and discussant for three additional presentations. Dr. Reich's research foci include socio-emotional development, parent-child interactions, and peer networks.
Abstract of Dr. Reich's Presentation: "Networking Does Not Equal Community: Adolescent Use of MySpace and Facebook.
For many, the word community conjures warm feelings and positive regard. The term is used to describe things as small as a study group (e.g. book-review club) or as large as the world (e.g. global community). A sociologist, Abu-Lughod, (1991) comments, "the concepts of community occupies a privileged place in the romantic symbolic lexicon of America, as significant as mother, apple pie, and democracy" (p. 269). Although the word, community, is quite familiar, there are few formal definitions of it and virtually no consensus on its structure. Conceptualization of community becomes more complicated when one considers whether community is tied to a place, shared interest, or emotional commitment. While online groups are often referred to as online communities, this paper will argue that typical uses of social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, are not truly as communities. Using focus groups, survey, and interview data from adolescents and college students, this presentation will demonstrate the individual processes of these online social networking forums. The data will show that membership varies from profile to profile with little overlaps between "community members". Power is unilateral with profile creators adding and deleting "friends" at will and the purposes and benefits of these online settings vary from person to person without any interdependence for use or purpose. While there are numerous examples of online groups being communities, some technological structures prohibit true community development and can lead to just a bunch of individuals socializing.
Abstract of Presentation Chaired by Dr Reich: Community Psychology Education in Different Areas of the World
Community Psychology (CP) is practiced and taught in many
countries around the world. Unfortunately, when the theories and
methods of the field of CP are taught in the United States it is often
with little acknowledgement of the rich theories and practices of other
countries. This myopic perspective is surprising given CP's focus on
contextualism, diversity, and culture. This mono-national education
misses the opportunity for new scholars and practitioners to learn
about the myriad theories, applications, and methods of CP as it is
applied in a variety of contexts. This roundtable session brings
together scholars from Canada, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, and the US
to discuss how CP is taught in various countries. Special attention is
given to similarities and differences in theories, methods, and
applications across these different contexts. While these eight
panelists will discuss their country-specific practices, we invite
session attendees, especially those from other countries to participate
in this discussion. The roundtable will conclude with recommended
readings from each country and suggestions for ways to diversify CP
curricula to include an international perspective. Presenters: Holly
Angelique, Penn State University Harrisburg; Caterina Arcidiacono,
Università Federico II-Napoli; Sangeeta Bhatia, University of Delhi;
Marci Culley, Georgia State University; Isaac Prilleltensky, University
of Miami; Manuel Riemer, Wilfrid Laurier University; Toshiaki Sasao,
University of Ilinois at Chicago & Chuo University, Japan; Sofia
Triliva, University of Crete
Abstract of Presentation Co-chaired by Dr. Reich: Research in the Cross-section of Community Psychology and Global Climate Change: A Call for Action
While compiling the contributions to the AJCP special issue on CP and global climate change (GCC) it became evident that CP theory, research, and action could be very valuable for the environmental movement. At the same time it was apparent how little CP has been applied in this issue and that there is very little empirical work utilizing CP theories towards practice. In this roundtable discussion we invite participants to explore how CP can have a stronger presence in research relevant to those working to address GCC. Specifically, what are the research areas that we should focus on? How can we encourage and support research in this area? What can we learn from other areas that may apply in this context? What kind of networks and collaborations can we develop to foster the much needed research in the cross-section of CP and GCC? The authors will briefly share the key arguments from their papers followed by a discussion in small groups. The results of these small group meetings will then be presented in the larger group for further discussion and development of action plans. Presenters: Marci Culley, Georgia State University; Holly Angelique, Penn State University Harrisburg; Courte Voorhees, Vanderbilt University; Brian John Bishop, CSIRO; Peta Louise Dzidic, CSIRO; David Tucker, CSIRO; Tomkins Alan, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center; Lisa PytlikZillig, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center; Ashok Samal, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Brian Bornstein, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Christine Quimby, Independent.
Abstract of Presentation with Dr. Reich as Discussant: Historical and Contemporary Colonization and Indigenous Human Rights
Community Psychology has an explicit value in promoting social justice and individual, collective, and societal well-being. As part of this aim, CP seeks to understand people within their historical context. Oftentimes this goal is not reached when addressing historical and current colonization and its impact on indigenous/human rights. This panel will focus on the activities of community psychologists in three areas of the world working with first people towards social justice. Sandy Lazarus, from South Africa, will reflect on and discuss issues relating to historical and contemporary colonization and indigenous/human rights in South Africa, within the context of the broader African region. Katie Thomas, from Australia, will describe some of the many streams of academic discourse used to support indigenous sovereignty - oftentimes, with the use of convoluted, jargonized and complex theoretical constructs to defend indigenous rights. She questions what position indigenous knowledge should take in directing the path, priorities and processes we use to legitimate knowledge and to advance Aboriginal people and whether, in our quest for knowledge we are liberating or re-invading indigenous spaces? How would we know? Eduardo Almeida, from Mexico, will analyze some of the human rights violations and the silent violence generated by historical power asymmetries and mistrust between indigenous peoples of Mexico and the old and new colonizers. Together, these three panelists will help to identify some of the key challenges for the psychology profession - locally and internationally - and propose some possible ways of addressing these challenges. Presenters: Sandy Lazarus, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; Katie Thomas, Curtin University of Technology; Eduardo Almeida, Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla.
