Situating Critical Consciousness Within the Developmental System

doi:10.1017/9781009153751.003

2 - Situating Critical Consciousness Within the Developmental System

Insights from the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory

from Part I - Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 April 2023

Sara Suzuki,

Sara K. Johnson and

Kevin A. Ferreira van Leer

Edited by

Luke J. Rapa and

Erin B. Godfrey

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Luke J. Rapa: Affiliation:
Clemson University, South Carolina
Erin B. Godfrey: Affiliation:
New York University

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Summary

Over a relatively short period of time, critical consciousness (CC) has become a prominent framework for describing how the developing person addresses systems of oppression. However, there has been less work to situate CC within developmental systems theory. The phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory (PVEST) is a developmental systems theory that accounts for how the reality of oppression influences developmental contexts and processes. We draw on PVEST to illuminate new theoretical directions for CC, including: (1) considering the broader context of CC within the developmental system; (2) addressing meaning-making as a primary developmental process that impacts CC; (3) considering CC as embedded in time, and (4) focusing on the dynamic and collective nature of CC. We explore the combined strengths of CC and PVEST to imagine new research questions that explore the contextualized and dynamic ways young people contend with systems of oppression across development.

Keywords

identity development social domain theory multilevel modeling cognitive development neighborhood

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Type: Chapter
Information: Critical Consciousness
Expanding Theory and Measurement
, pp. 41 - 62
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009153751.003 [Opens in a new window]
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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