The use and misuse of some positively valenced community concepts.
Considers the usage of four somewhat amorphous, but positively valenced, community mental health terms: primary prevention in mental health (and closely related notions such as wellness enhancement and positive psychology); resilience; charter schools; and empowerment. Use of these concepts often reflects a need to align with currently popular, "in"-terminology, rather than an intrinsic connection between what is being written about and a tight definition of the concept in question. Usages built primarily around a concept's positive valence and glitter tend to: (a) break down communication; (b) confuse rather than clarify; and (c) ultimately retard a field's growth and progress.
Cowen
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University of Rochester, Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, NY 14620, USA.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000592:standards; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D004493:Education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011322:Primary Prevention; D014481:United States