Critical psychology is a theoretical and methodological approach within psychology that aims to challenge and deconstruct traditional assumptions, power structures, and norms within the field. It seeks to analyze how psychology, as a discipline, reflects and perpetuates social inequalities, oppression, and injustices, and to advocate for social change and liberation.

Key aspects of critical psychology include:

1. Critique of Dominant Discourses: Critical psychology critiques the dominant discourses and paradigms within psychology, including individualism, positivism, and pathologization. It examines how these discourses shape knowledge production, research practices, and professional norms, often reinforcing existing power dynamics and marginalizing certain groups.
2. Social Justice and Liberation: Critical psychology advocates for social justice, equity, and liberation by centering the experiences and voices of marginalized groups, challenging systemic oppression, and promoting inclusivity and diversity within the field. It seeks to address issues of privilege, discrimination, and social inequality in both theory and practice.
3. Intersectionality: Critical psychology recognizes the intersecting influences of social identities such as race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and nationality on individual experiences and psychological processes. It explores how multiple forms of oppression and privilege intersect and compound to shape individuals’ lives and psychological well-being.
4. Decolonization and Postcolonial Perspectives: Critical psychology engages with decolonial and postcolonial perspectives to deconstruct colonial legacies and challenge Eurocentric knowledge production in psychology. It examines how colonialism, imperialism, and globalization have shaped psychological theories, research methodologies, and practices, particularly in non-Western contexts.
5. Power and Resistance: Critical psychology analyzes power relations within psychology and society, including how power is exercised, maintained, and contested. It examines forms of resistance, activism, and grassroots organizing aimed at challenging oppressive structures and promoting social change.
6. Community Psychology and Participatory Action Research: Critical psychology draws on community psychology and participatory action research approaches to engage with communities and stakeholders in research and advocacy. It emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and collective action to address social issues and promote community well-being.
7. Ethical Practice and Social Responsibility: Critical psychology promotes ethical practice and social responsibility in psychology by encouraging reflexivity, self-awareness, and accountability among practitioners and researchers. It calls for ethical engagement with communities, transparency in research practices, and the prioritization of social impact over academic prestige.

Overall, critical psychology offers a transformative and emancipatory vision of psychology that challenges existing power structures, amplifies marginalized voices, and promotes social justice and liberation. It encourages psychologists to critically examine their roles and responsibilities in contributing to positive social change and to actively work towards a more equitable and just society.