3-007 - Critical Consciousness in Pre-Adolescent Children: Building Theory and Identifying Priorities for Scholarship

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Integrative Statement

Critical consciousness (CC; Freire, 1973) refers to awareness of oppressive systemic forces in society as well as a sense of collective or individual efficacy to work against oppression. CC consists of critical reflection (engagement in critical analysis of inequality), political efficacy (perceived capacity to effect change), and critical action (engagement in activities intended to effect change) (Watts, Diemer, & Voight, 2011). Developed in the field of literacy studies, CC has begun receiving attention in applied psychology as a resource that may foster thriving in people who are marginalized based on race, social class, or other factors. However, this attention has focused primarily on adults and adolescents (e.g., Diemer & Rapa, 2016; Hope & Bañales, 2018). This roundtable discussion brings together an interdisciplinary group of early career researchers to discuss emerging theory regarding the nature and development of CC in pre-adolescent children, as well as the potential psychological consequences of CC for children from diverse racial, economic, and geographic groups and at different points in development. The development and role of CC in educational settings will be emphasized. Key research questions and hypotheses will be explored through dialogue with the audience, facilitated by the moderator, Dr. Amy Heberle. This discussion will be of interest to those whose scholarship spans some of the following areas: youth civic engagement and empowerment; anti-bias and prejudice intervention work; the impacts of economic injustice on children; the impacts of racism and sexism on children’s development; and how children thrive despite marginalization of various forms.

Sub Unit

• Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Moderator

• Amy Heberle, Clark University

Panelists

• Luke J. Rapa, Clemson University

• Flora Farago, Stephen F. Austin State University

• Elan Hope, North Carolina State University

• Úna Shannon, Boston College