On the politicization and polarization of psychology: What psychologists can learn from psychologists

Social justice ideologies, with its emphasis on group or social identity, is permeating psychology. From its major role in the recently proposed code of ethics to its impact on therapy itself, the infusion of social justice ideologies into psychology threatens to change its very nature. This movement has a laudable goal: to combat the injustices that can impact individuals' mental health. But studies show that it also has negative impacts. This article lays out aspects of psychological research that are often ignored by psychologists, showing how the politicization of social identity and the external imposition of identity can cause harm. While there are controlling mechanisms that can help diffuse those harms, the ideological positions that dominate the social justice model undermine them. In other words, social justice ideologies promote social identity while simultaneously undermining the ideas that help contain the damage it causes. While it is important to research and consider the ways in which injustice can impact mental health and to incorporate that knowledge into treatment when warranted, it is equally important to research and consider how the ways in which this is done can bring harm to the very people psychologists profess to help.