Framework and concepts of community psychology

Community psychology has been developed since the 1960s in North America, whereas its development is much more recent in Europe. It differs from traditional models of psychology by its conception of users and Communities as collaborators. This field requires from psychologists that they extend their competencies to prevention and mental health promotion. It lays oil a positive conception of the individual and of health, and seeks the investment of users in the development of local mental health models and resources. This paper aims at presenting the history of community psychology, its conceptual framework and its specificities, with regards to traditional models. (C) 2008 Societe francaise de psychologie. Publie par Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.