Critical psychologies for critical health literacies

Abstract

Health education is largely informed by psychological theories and practices that pursue reductionist views of people learning. However, critical attention is moving to understand health in ways that reconsider relationships to context and the forms of life within which everyday living takes place. This shift is apparent in theoretical developments from health literacy to critical health literacies. The discussion herein presents an introduction to critical health literacies focusing on potential contributions critically oriented psychologies offer this work. Research is introduced from critical health psychology, critical educational psychology and critical community psychology to engage psychological phenomena as jointly constituted via embodied, discursive and relational means. Subsequently, it is argued, by re-evaluating understanding in this way, a prospective kind of psychosocial theory is elucidated capable of promoting and sustaining health inclusive education.

Keywords:

• critical psychology
• literacies
• health education