Michael Arfken | University of Prince Edward Island (original) (raw)
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology by Michael Arfken
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology, 2021
We are pleased to announce that a new issue of Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology has just been... more We are pleased to announce that a new issue of Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology has just been published. Here is a link to the issue:
Awry is an open-access, peer reviewed academic journal that provides an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholars dedicated to interrogating the economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions of psychological research and practice.
We welcome articles and reviews from scholars and activists who draw on a wide range of theoretical orientations and methodological approaches. We also encourage proposals for special issues and experimental formats that push against the boundaries of traditional scholarship and practice.
Sincerely,
Michael Arfken, PhD
Editor
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology, 2020
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal! Awry... more We are pleased to announce the launch of a new open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal!
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology will be published twice a year providing an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholars dedicated to interrogating the economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions of psychological research and practice.
We welcome submissions from scholars and activists who draw on a wide range of theoretical orientations and methodological approaches. In addition, we encourage proposals for special issues and experimental formats that push against the boundaries of traditional scholarship and practice.
For more information, please visit the journal website: https://awryjcp.com/
Articles / Chapters / Presentations by Michael Arfken
For theoretical and philosophical psychologists exploring the nature of human thought, recent int... more For theoretical and philosophical psychologists exploring the nature of human thought, recent interest in neoliberalism provides fertile ground for interrogating a wide range of issues that emerge at the intersection of political, economic, and psychological theory. This article reviews the various contributions to this special issue on neoliberalism and psychological theory. In addition to investigating the role that psychological theory can play in illuminating various aspects of neoliberal theory and practice, this review also explores the way that critique functions within a neoliberal context.
In a recent article, Bernice Lott suggests that modern psychology has failed to investigate in an... more In a recent article, Bernice Lott suggests that modern psychology has failed to investigate in any systematic fashion existing beliefs and attitudes surrounding socialism. While there is much to commend in Lott's analysis, her support for a social democratic version of socialism tends to obscure the more revolutionary potentials of socialist practice. To adequately address social and environmental justice, I argue that the trajectory of psychological research and practice must be brought into alignment with a socialism that is committed to interrogating and ultimately destabilizing the capitalist mode of production.
Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, Feb 2014
Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of soc... more Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of social justice, there has been less interest in interrogating and clarifying the philosophical and theoretical issues that lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together a range of established scholars with diverse social and political commitments to reflect on some of the philosophical and theoretical issues that emerge when psychologists address social justice in their research and practice. The major themes taken up in this issue include the relationship between the individual and the community, the role that psychology plays both in promoting and in preventing the development of more equitable social and political institutions, and the way that different forms of universalism (e.g., moral, scientific, psychological) inform the struggle for social justice.
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Within recent years a number of scholars have called on the discipline of psychology to expand be... more Within recent years a number of scholars have called on the discipline of psychology to expand beyond the confines of Western society in an effort to address a range of issues in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. While scholars interested in the internationalization of psychology have addressed both organizational and representational issues surrounding the development of a global psychology, there has been relatively little effort to understand the theoretical dimensions of internationalization. To the extent that contextualist challenges to universalism focus exclusively on ethnocentrism, these challenges fail to adequately interrogate the economic foundations of internationalization and globalization. Ultimately, a politics of recognition must be balanced with a renewed focus on the redistributive dimensions of social justice.
Annual Review of Critical Psychology, 2011
Full issue: http://www.discourseunit.com/annual-review/arcp-9-marxism-and-psychology/
International Journal of Critical Psychology, 2007
P sychological researchers claim that empirical methods provide a means for developing an accurat... more P sychological researchers claim that empirical methods provide a means for developing an accurate perception of reality. From this perspective, the knowledge they gain is purported to be free from the distorting influence of subjective biases. I argue that this view of empirical research already presupposes a mental representational account of knowledge. Moreover, I suggest that this view may have profound implications for the way we approach distortions in the interpretation of social reality. By focusing on the practical dimensions of human interaction, it is possible to explore economic and social conditions that may already constitute an interpretation of social reality. I conclude by arguing that critical psychology's commitment to interdisciplinary exchange can make a positive contribution to psychological research.
The Psychology Research Handbook, 2006
"The present project focuses on some of the similarities between social cognition, transcendental... more "The present project focuses on some of the similarities between social cognition, transcendental phenomenology, literary theory, and epistemological hermeneutics. I argue that developments in hermeneutic theory call into question the view that interpretation is a cognitive process residing within the minds of individuals. Drawing on Heidegger’s project for a fundamental ontology, I suggest that hermeneutic phenomenology provides a radical critique of social cognition’s view of the nature of social reality. I also introduce the concept of practice as an alternative to psychology’s focus on subjectivity.
These theoretical explorations provide a foundation for investigating the practices that embody an interpretation of political reality. Using open-ended qualitative interviews, I ask participants to describe in as much detail as possible, salient political situations. I categorize these situations into three broad areas: (1) media (2) conventional political activities and (3) political socialization. Within each of these categories, I discuss variations in the way people understand political life.
Finally, I explore the implications of these practices for our understanding of democracy. I discuss how the movement from epistemology to ontology calls into question the role of subjectivity in contemporary democratic societies."
Moral Cruelty: Ameaning and the Justification of Harm by T. Hulsey & C. Frost, 2004
Book Reviews by Michael Arfken
Although scholarship surrounding the Frankfurt School has become something of an intellectual ind... more Although scholarship surrounding the Frankfurt School has become something of an intellectual industry, the bulk of this work has tended to emphasize Adorno, Horkheimer, and Marcuse's contributions to twentieth century social theory. To the extent that Erich Fromm has attracted interest, he has often been treated as little more than a footnote to these more influential scholars. Yet it seems important to ask whether contemporary social theory is well suited to address the most pressing social, political, and economic concerns of the day. If we discover that social theory has actually come to resemble the structure of modern society with rival intellectual factions competing for material resources then it would appear that the time is ripe to reflect on the circumstances that thrust certain intellectuals into the spotlight while relegating others to the margins of critical thought. Placing Fromm's work against the background of contemporary social theoretical debates, The Radical Humanism of Erich Fromm explores whether a fresh approach can resolve some of the seemingly intractable issues that have come to dominate the intellectual landscape.
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology, 2021
We are pleased to announce that a new issue of Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology has just been... more We are pleased to announce that a new issue of Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology has just been published. Here is a link to the issue:
Awry is an open-access, peer reviewed academic journal that provides an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholars dedicated to interrogating the economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions of psychological research and practice.
We welcome articles and reviews from scholars and activists who draw on a wide range of theoretical orientations and methodological approaches. We also encourage proposals for special issues and experimental formats that push against the boundaries of traditional scholarship and practice.
Sincerely,
Michael Arfken, PhD
Editor
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology, 2020
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal! Awry... more We are pleased to announce the launch of a new open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal!
Awry: Journal of Critical Psychology will be published twice a year providing an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholars dedicated to interrogating the economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions of psychological research and practice.
We welcome submissions from scholars and activists who draw on a wide range of theoretical orientations and methodological approaches. In addition, we encourage proposals for special issues and experimental formats that push against the boundaries of traditional scholarship and practice.
For more information, please visit the journal website: https://awryjcp.com/
For theoretical and philosophical psychologists exploring the nature of human thought, recent int... more For theoretical and philosophical psychologists exploring the nature of human thought, recent interest in neoliberalism provides fertile ground for interrogating a wide range of issues that emerge at the intersection of political, economic, and psychological theory. This article reviews the various contributions to this special issue on neoliberalism and psychological theory. In addition to investigating the role that psychological theory can play in illuminating various aspects of neoliberal theory and practice, this review also explores the way that critique functions within a neoliberal context.
In a recent article, Bernice Lott suggests that modern psychology has failed to investigate in an... more In a recent article, Bernice Lott suggests that modern psychology has failed to investigate in any systematic fashion existing beliefs and attitudes surrounding socialism. While there is much to commend in Lott's analysis, her support for a social democratic version of socialism tends to obscure the more revolutionary potentials of socialist practice. To adequately address social and environmental justice, I argue that the trajectory of psychological research and practice must be brought into alignment with a socialism that is committed to interrogating and ultimately destabilizing the capitalist mode of production.
Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, Feb 2014
Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of soc... more Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of social justice, there has been less interest in interrogating and clarifying the philosophical and theoretical issues that lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together a range of established scholars with diverse social and political commitments to reflect on some of the philosophical and theoretical issues that emerge when psychologists address social justice in their research and practice. The major themes taken up in this issue include the relationship between the individual and the community, the role that psychology plays both in promoting and in preventing the development of more equitable social and political institutions, and the way that different forms of universalism (e.g., moral, scientific, psychological) inform the struggle for social justice.
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Within recent years a number of scholars have called on the discipline of psychology to expand be... more Within recent years a number of scholars have called on the discipline of psychology to expand beyond the confines of Western society in an effort to address a range of issues in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world. While scholars interested in the internationalization of psychology have addressed both organizational and representational issues surrounding the development of a global psychology, there has been relatively little effort to understand the theoretical dimensions of internationalization. To the extent that contextualist challenges to universalism focus exclusively on ethnocentrism, these challenges fail to adequately interrogate the economic foundations of internationalization and globalization. Ultimately, a politics of recognition must be balanced with a renewed focus on the redistributive dimensions of social justice.
Annual Review of Critical Psychology, 2011
Full issue: http://www.discourseunit.com/annual-review/arcp-9-marxism-and-psychology/
International Journal of Critical Psychology, 2007
P sychological researchers claim that empirical methods provide a means for developing an accurat... more P sychological researchers claim that empirical methods provide a means for developing an accurate perception of reality. From this perspective, the knowledge they gain is purported to be free from the distorting influence of subjective biases. I argue that this view of empirical research already presupposes a mental representational account of knowledge. Moreover, I suggest that this view may have profound implications for the way we approach distortions in the interpretation of social reality. By focusing on the practical dimensions of human interaction, it is possible to explore economic and social conditions that may already constitute an interpretation of social reality. I conclude by arguing that critical psychology's commitment to interdisciplinary exchange can make a positive contribution to psychological research.
The Psychology Research Handbook, 2006
"The present project focuses on some of the similarities between social cognition, transcendental... more "The present project focuses on some of the similarities between social cognition, transcendental phenomenology, literary theory, and epistemological hermeneutics. I argue that developments in hermeneutic theory call into question the view that interpretation is a cognitive process residing within the minds of individuals. Drawing on Heidegger’s project for a fundamental ontology, I suggest that hermeneutic phenomenology provides a radical critique of social cognition’s view of the nature of social reality. I also introduce the concept of practice as an alternative to psychology’s focus on subjectivity.
These theoretical explorations provide a foundation for investigating the practices that embody an interpretation of political reality. Using open-ended qualitative interviews, I ask participants to describe in as much detail as possible, salient political situations. I categorize these situations into three broad areas: (1) media (2) conventional political activities and (3) political socialization. Within each of these categories, I discuss variations in the way people understand political life.
Finally, I explore the implications of these practices for our understanding of democracy. I discuss how the movement from epistemology to ontology calls into question the role of subjectivity in contemporary democratic societies."
Moral Cruelty: Ameaning and the Justification of Harm by T. Hulsey & C. Frost, 2004
Although scholarship surrounding the Frankfurt School has become something of an intellectual ind... more Although scholarship surrounding the Frankfurt School has become something of an intellectual industry, the bulk of this work has tended to emphasize Adorno, Horkheimer, and Marcuse's contributions to twentieth century social theory. To the extent that Erich Fromm has attracted interest, he has often been treated as little more than a footnote to these more influential scholars. Yet it seems important to ask whether contemporary social theory is well suited to address the most pressing social, political, and economic concerns of the day. If we discover that social theory has actually come to resemble the structure of modern society with rival intellectual factions competing for material resources then it would appear that the time is ripe to reflect on the circumstances that thrust certain intellectuals into the spotlight while relegating others to the margins of critical thought. Placing Fromm's work against the background of contemporary social theoretical debates, The Radical Humanism of Erich Fromm explores whether a fresh approach can resolve some of the seemingly intractable issues that have come to dominate the intellectual landscape.
Mind, Culture, and Activity, 2011
In the opening pages of The Interpretation of Cultures, Clifford Geertz (1973) noted that the int... more In the opening pages of The Interpretation of Cultures, Clifford Geertz (1973) noted that the intellectual landscape experiences periodic explosions where a new idea arrives on the scene promising to resolve many if not all of the conceptual difficulties facing a variety of disciplines. As the new idea gains momentum, scholars from all sides join the effort to transform this insight into the guiding force for all legitimate investigation. Eventually, cooler heads prevail and the new concept takes its place among the other orthodoxies. According to the editors of Embodied Grounding, a new idea is beginning to challenge the hegemony of the computational metaphor. Although it is too soon to tell whether embodiment will have the power to usurp the reign of information processing, it is clear that the concept has important implications for the way we understand psychological explanation. For that reason, it is particularly important to clarify how the contributors to this volume delineate the boundary of their embodied perspective.
Marx & Philosophy Review of Books, 2011
The Critical Companion to Contemporary Marxism brings together forty essays that chart the trajec... more The Critical Companion to Contemporary Marxism brings together forty essays that chart the trajectory of Marxist scholarship since about the middle of the last century. Although the essays in this volume come from a variety of scholars, close to a quarter of the contributions are from the editors themselves. The central purpose of this volume is both to highlight the recent crises that Marxism has endured and to offer a number of ways to move Marxism beyond these challanges.
Theory & Psychology, 2009
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 2008
Do we first occupy a space that we transform into a meaningful place or is a sense of place vital... more Do we first occupy a space that we transform into a meaningful place or is a sense of place vital for navigating something like a space? Can the abstract geometric space of science ever truly capture our lived experience of a landscape? How can a set of stairs facilitate or undermine our participation in the life of a community? These questions and more will provide the foundation for exploring the human experience of space and place.
Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 2014
Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of soc... more Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of social justice, there has been less interest in interrogating and clarifying the philosophical and theoretical issues that lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together a range of established scholars with diverse social and political commitments to reflect on some of the philosophical and theoretical issues that emerge when psychologists address social justice in their research and practice. The major themes taken up in this issue include the relationship between the individual and the community, the role that psychology plays both in promoting and in preventing the development of more equitable social and political institutions, and the way that different forms of universalism (e.g., moral, scientific, psychological) inform the struggle for social justice.
Few people nowadays know what man is. Many sense this ignorance and die the more easily because o... more Few people nowadays know what man is. Many sense this ignorance and die the more easily because of it. .. I do not consider myself less ignorant than most people. .. I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teachings my blood whispers to me. My story is not a pleasant one; it is neither sweet nor harmonious as invented stories are; it has the taste of nonsense and chaos, of madness and dreams like the lives of all men who stop deceiving themselves. (Hesse 105
Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 2016
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 10749030903046243, Jan 14, 2011
Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology, 2014
Mind, Culture, and Activity, 2011
View all references) noted that the intellectual landscape experiences periodic explosions where ... more View all references) noted that the intellectual landscape experiences periodic explosions where a new idea arrives on the scene promising to resolve many if not all of the conceptual difficulties facing a variety of disciplines. As the new idea gains momentum, scholars from all sides ...
American Psychologist, 2013
Comments on the original article, &am... more Comments on the original article, "Psychology and social justice: Why we do what we do" by M. J. T. Vasquez (see record 2012-18676-002). Vasquez pointed to numerous initiatives and task forces that the American Psychological Association (APA) has established to address the marginalization and subordination of various groups. There is little doubt that the concerns addressed by these initiatives and task forces are important and play a central role in the development of a just society. Although Vasquez noted that "social realities are important determinants of distress" she failed to appreciate the extent to which our social relations emerge against the background of specific political and economic structures. The cost of this oversight is the perpetuation of a politics of recognition that does little to address the economic inequalities that are a defining feature of unjust societies. Were APA to restrict its attention to psychological distress or access to resources, it would place APA in the service of maintaining rather than transforming the existing structure of society. APA should consider developing initiatives and task forces to investigate the role that capitalism plays in the perpetuation of inequality and exploitation. It may also be time to reflect on why an institution that claims to be dedicated to social justice has had so little to say about one of the dominant features of modern society.
Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, Feb 2014
Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of soc... more Although there has been considerable empirical scholarship on the psychological dimensions of social justice, there has been less interest in interrogating and clarifying the philosophical and theoretical issues that lie at the intersection of psychology and social justice. The purpose of this special issue is to bring together a range of established scholars with diverse social and political commitments to reflect on some of the philosophical and theoretical issues that emerge when psychologists address social justice in their research and practice. The major themes taken up in this issue include the relationship between the individual and the community, the role that psychology plays both in promoting and in preventing the development of more equitable social and political institutions, and the way that different forms of universalism (e.g., moral, scientific, psychological) inform the struggle for social justice.