Abstract

MARUJO, Helena Águeda  and  NETO, Luís Miguel. Psicologia Comunitária Positiva: Um exemplo de integração paradigmática com populações de pobreza. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.3, pp.517-525. ISSN 0870-8231.

The ontological, epistemological and methodological aspects of community psychology make it particularly appropriate to elegantly and efficaciously intertwine this model with the new paradigm of positive psychology. The present article describes and reflects an intervention aimed at that integration, implemented with populations living under the poverty line in the Portuguese Azores Islands. While supporting priority changes in the material quality of life of the population, the project has been working with the professionals to be catalysts for inclusion and empowerment, while stimulating the consciousness on individual and collective virtues and strengths through the intervention at the speech act. Throughout participative and appreciative interventions, and under a community development positive focus, the project has been enhancing optimism, hope, sense of humour and positive emotions in general, as much as a new language where positive words are now possible to describe life experiences. We tried to move from a survival to a “Supervival” position. We therefore connect recent scientific data from positive psychology and from community psychology into a critical, appreciative, and generative practice involving transformational changes co-constructed between professionals and poverty populations.

Keywords : Appreciative inquiry; Community psychology; Positive psychology; Poverty; Speech act.

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