Hilde Eileen Nafstad

Globalization, Neo-Liberalism and Community Psychology

A longitudinal analysis (1984–2005) of media language in Norway is presented, demonstrating how the current globalized capitalist market ideology is now permeating this long-established Scandinavian welfare state. This ideological shift carries powerful implications for community psychology, as traditional welfare state values of equal services based on a universalistic principle are set aside, and social and material inequalities are increasingly accepted. The methodology developed in the present study may serve as a “barometer of community changes”, to borrow a metaphor used by Sarason (2000).

Making Sense of Neoliberal Subjectivity: A Discourse Analysis of Media Language on Self-development

Abstract The influence of neoliberalism on culture and subjectivity is well documented. This paper contributes to understanding of how neoliberal ideology enters into the production of subjectivity. While subject formation takes place in multiple and contradictory ways and across multiple social sites, we focus on the increasingly popular media discourse of self-development, and examine it as a technology of neoliberal subjectification. Drawing on Foucauldian understandings, we analyze data from two different newspapers from two different national contexts, both of which are heavily influenced by neoliberalism. Based on our analysis, we detail four interrelated discourses—rationality, autonomy and responsibility, entrepreneurship, and positivity and self-confidence—demonstrating how these discourses constitute the neoliberal subject in ways consonant with neoliberal governmentality. There is no observable resistance to subject positions offered within these discourses. Self-development discourse instills stronger individualism in society, while constraining collective identity, and thus provides social control and contributes to preserving status quo of neoliberal societies.

Globalization, ideologies and well-being: a study of a West African and a North European society

Ideologies shape peoples belief systems about what constitutes a good life and well-being and how to navigate between considerations of own well-being versus the well-being of others. The present study investigates ideologies in West African Ghana and North European Norway. Comparative, longitudinal analyses of ideological shifts reflected in changes in language usage in public discourse (newspapers) in the two nations revealed how currently globalized ideology (consumerism, individualism and neo-liberalism) merges with local ideologies in unique ways with regard to the balance between individualist and communal values.

COMMUNITY AND CARE WORK IN A WORLD OF CHANGING IDEOLOGIES

Seymour B. Sarason, one of the founders of community psychology, has stated the need for developing barometers of community changes. The authors present a methodology for identifying societal ideologies, ideological shifts and power relations as reflected by the language of public discourse. As a case study, systematic analyses of changes in the Norwegian language over the last two decades are presented. It is demonstrated how Norwegian society has been gradually transformed from a traditional Scandinavian welfare society towards the values and ideals of neo-liberalist market ideology: for instance, language reflects and supports competitive practices increasingly being applied to public service provision. Another example is that the public discourse of individual rights has gradually been overshadowing the discourse of community duties and obligations. On the other hand, the analyses also reveal counter-ideologies, reflected, for example, in the launching of new words and expressions critical to neo-liberalist ideology.

Communal Values and Individualism in Our Era of Globalization: A Comparative Longitudinal Study of Three Different Societies

Ideologies shape people’s belief systems about what constitutes a good life and well-being and how to navigate between considerations of own well-being versus the well-being of others. In every culture, there is a powerful set of ideals about collectivism and individualism, and societies have to find a balance between individual independence and collective interdependence. Based on its own local historical and cultural traditions, every society has to negotiate its own balance between individual and communal values. Conceptions of what makes a good life have thus, in essential and fundamental ways, to consider both individual autonomy and personal growth and the individual’s partaking in developing, upholding, and maintaining his or her community. Conceiving globalization as an ideology or worldview, as a system of ideas and values circulating in the public realm influencing societies worldwide thereby defining and articulating local values and visions for social change, this study analyzes the influences of globalization on communal values and sense of community as reflected in language usage in public discourses (newspapers) in three different societies: a post-communist East European republic (the Czech Republic), a Nordic welfare state (Norway), and a modern West African society (Ghana).

Well-being vocabulary in media language: An analysis of changing word usage in Norwegian newspapers

Abstract Well-being is a widely discussed topic in research, policy, and media. This study was aimed at examining usage patterns of core terminology related to well-being in Norwegian newspapers during the past two decades. Specifically, we investigated occurrence across time of 39 words describing well-being facets from four theoretical perspectives: affective approaches, cognitive or life satisfaction approaches, eudaimonic and humanistic approaches, and character strengths. Four major newspapers were selected in order to capture sociocultural and regional variation. Evidence of significant changes in usage frequency was detected for about half of the search terms. Affective words showed variable trends, while usage of words referring to satisfaction declined. The most notable magnitude of change concerned the increase in eudaimonic words related to mastery, motivation, and self-development. Findings suggest that core vocabulary of well-being belongs to a changeable field of linguistic practice. Implications for positive psychology are proposed.

Applied versus Basic Social Research: a Question of Amplified Complexity

The tasks, working situation, and professional role assigned to applied social scientists are analysed. The processes of basic and applied social research are systematically compared, and it is demonstrated how applied social research has to meet all the cnteria of traditional basic research as well as the specific criterion of social relevance. The problem of how to develop adequate critena for evaluating applied social research is addressed. The widespread downgrading of applied social research is analysed in the context of the lack of adequate criteria for evaluating applied social research on its own premises.

Sosial klasse, språk og kompensatorisk undervisning i førskolealderen

SUMMARYThe theoretical and empirical background for and the development of the so—called compensatory educational preschool programs are briefly outlined. Having reviewed some typical examples, the premises on which these programs seem to be based, are identified. The substantial part of the paper is then devoted to a critical analysis of the most basic of these premises, namely the assumption that children from particular socio—economic backgrounds have an undeveloped and rudimentary language. This particular assumption is critically analysed and questioned in the light of modern theory and research on language and communication.

Current Social Psychology in Norway: A Trend Report

Introduction In addition to the obvious space restrictions, the representativity of the present review is also reduced by the following factors: (a) the prejudices of the present reviewers what they do and do not include as social psychology; and (b) information or communication barriers. Social psychology is conducted at different types of institution and at various places in Norway. The institutional go-between, however, is far from perfect. Hence the nationwide review has been kept to a minimum, and research conducted at the institutions at which the present reviewers belong are chosen for further illustrative presentation. Psychology in Norway is predominantly professionally clinical, traditionally individual-centred and psychoanalytically oriented. However, there have been strong tendencies recently to adopt more social oriented perspectives and approaches within almost every field of professional psychological activity. Activities conducted by psychologists in Norway which may reasonably be classified as social psychology, thus prove to represent a rich and mixed pattern. In accordance with the instructions for writing the present review, we will restrict ourselves to (a) education in social psychology; (b) research (oriented work) in social psychology; and (c) try not to describe the variety of relevant social psychology to be found in professional clinical psychology proper. This, however, will naturally not prohibit us from presenting the rapidly growing field of research in applied social psychology.