Third Space Activities and Change Processes: An Exploration of Ideas from Social and Psychodynamic Theories |
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Authors: | Elizabeth King Keenan Dennis Miehls |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Social Work, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA;(2) Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, MA 01063, USA |
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Abstract: | Discussions pertaining to culture, power and/or identity frequently create tensions that are enacted by dyads and groups within
schools, workplaces and communities. Although tensions can easily escalate into conflict or violence, we have observed that
these tensions can serve as prompts that promote a change process. When individual perspectives are challenged, some participants
are able to dissemble their views and consider other perspectives from which new understandings and views emerge. At times,
when groups seem to be on the threshold of overt conflict, some participants engage in processes that examine the tension,
explore new possibilities, and alter the view of one’s subjectivity. We suggest that these activities occur as momentary states
in psychological spaces conceptualized as third spaces (Bhabha, The location of culture. London: Routledge, 1994). In this paper, we use concepts from psychodynamic and social theories to describe the conditions
that coalesce to form states of mind (nepantla) (Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera: The new mestiza. San Francisco: Aunt Lute Books, 1999; Interviews Entrevistas. New York: Routledge, 2000) and the ability to engage in new relational possibilities (third space activities) with dyads
and groups, outside of psychotherapy. The conditions include: critical consciousness, regulation, recognition, and responsibility.
We then describe how such momentary experiences can subsequently result in an examination of one’s subjectivity, particularly
as it pertains to issues regarding culture, power, and identity. Throughout the paper we provide four examples from various
settings to illustrate these concepts and processes. Given the increasing racial/ethnic diversity of clients and clinical
social workers in North America, this concept of third spaces holds particular relevance for contemporary clinical social
work practice.
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Keywords: | Change processes Third space activities Psychodynamic theory Social theory |
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