Ecological Theory

This psychology model is used to analyze how the nature of an environment influences people’s interactions within a community. James Kelly, who developed the theory, uses for principles in describing this theory. The interdependence principle shows how a slight change in one element of the community causes changes in the other aspects as well. This discovery allows people to see a connection in everything around them. Adaptation principle shows how different factors of adaptation are various for different environments. For instance, a pupil may be friendly and be able to make friends with their peers, but teachers may not like it when the student has that character. This scenario explains how one can adapt quickly to specific environments than others. The principle of cycling of resources explains the identification and integration of various resources within a community. Some of these resources include access equipment and supplies, information, skills and abilities, and social support networks. Identifying such resources allow psychologists to find the relevant resources for the patient’s needs (Seedat, Duncan, & Lazarus, 2001). The fourth principle is succession which describes the continuous changes that a community experiences. For instance, one’s popular character today might be different in the future. Others changes include ageing and birth of children, among others. Changes allow people to evolve in various ways to adapt to new environments.

Rudolf Moos this model to try to explain nature in regards to relationships with people in a social environment. To understand this theory, a psychologist has to approach it from three different dimensions. One dimension is how an environment influences one’s insights on social connections. Another dimension is how one’s personal development supports then, and the last one involves an environment that maintains its norms in supporting the processes of change.

Psychologists argue that social climate plays a critical role in an individual’s well-being. This theory is mostly used in juvenile treatment programs and schools. For instance, in a situation where a student complains of being discriminated, this theory might help in solving the problem. The psychologist surveys the climate of the environment and investigates if there the degree to which people are experiencing the same issue. This knowledge allows the psychologist to choose the best way to intervene (Flaspohler et al., 2008).

Mental Health Theory

This model appreciates the impacts of power and fight for resources. Most communities have groups that are superior from others hence contributing to unfair dissemination of resources. Understanding this model allow community psychologists to help individuals acquire ways to gain control over the community resources that impact their lives (Seedat, Duncan, & Lazarus, 2001). This theory has two components that include dialectics and praxis. Praxis is used to gain knowledge and transform oppressive situations. Dialectics, on the other hand, explains that knowledge is gained through meditated social discussions. The two components show simultaneous events of developing expertise and working to bring change. The interactions between the oppressed and those in power causes raised awareness where the powerful groups to be humane.

Organization Theory

This theory aims to explain the feelings that people experience when they connect with the external community rather than themselves. Understanding the sense of community allows community psychologists to identify the needs of the city that need to be met when different groups interact with each other (Flaspohler et al., 2008). Four elements are used to explain the sense of community and include influence, shared emotional relationship, membership, and integration and accomplishment of needs. These elements are essential in finding ways that are reliable to measure a sense of community. For instance, an intervention can be a relevant approach to improve academic grades for students, but it can also be responsible in diminishing sense of community within classrooms.

Phenomenological model

This model consists of various parallel currents that relate but do not correspond.

However, they diverge from the same point and have a common task of analyzing phenomena. The model uses direct intuition to incorporate the source and final knowledge in descriptions. Phenomenology focuses on the study of consciousness through uniting science, philosophy and lifeworld. It then integrates the importance of these elements in investigated reports that are based on actual experiences. This facilitates the freedom of a situation from preexisting preconceptions. Psychologists use this model to understand how events are experienced in specific environments (Seedat, Duncan, & Lazarus, 2001).