Community Allies for Psychological Empowerment

The psychological entity of the Community Alliance (CAPE) is focused on providing comprehensive mental health services to ethnically diverse communities in San Diego County and surrounding areas. We are particularly dedicated ... Read More

Empowerment is a common structure in many fields and fields such as community development, psychology, education, economics, social movement, organizational research. The way to understand empowerment methods is different from these perspectives. In recent authoritative literature, the meaning of the term weighting is usually assumed rather than being interpreted or defined. Rappoport (1984) noted that it is easy to define empowerment by absence, but it is difficult to define behavior. Because it takes different forms in different people and environments. Even defining this concept is even debatable. Zimmerman (1984) noted that a single definition of authorization may attempt to implement it as a formulation or prescription, contradicting the concept of authorization.

The term empowerment comes from American community psychology and is related to social scientist Julian Rappaport (1981). However, the roots of empowerment theory further extends to history, and it is tied to Marxist sociological theory. These sociological ideas continue to evolve and improve through new Marxist theory (also known as critical theory). In social work, empowerment forms a practical approach to resource-oriented intervention. Empowerment is regarded as a tool for raising citizen's responsibility in the field of citizen education and democratic education. Empowerment is an important concept in discourse promoting citizen participation. Empowerment as a concept is characterized not only by continuous education and self-help, but also from a deficit-oriented approach to a more force-oriented concept.