Community work in the North — merging economy and psychology

Abstract

The main topic of this article is a presentation of, and reflections upon contributions from the field of Psychology, System Theory, Community Work and Family Therapy in community development projects The projects have been realised through the University of the Arctic, a cooperative network of universities, colleges and other organisations committed to higher education and research in the north. The project partners in those projects are North Eastern Federate University, named after M. K. Ammosov, Institute of Finance and Economics and Development Psychological Aid Centre, Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russian Federation and Finnmark University College, Alta, Norway. Nadezdha Melnikova and Eva Carlsdotter Schjetne have developed a working model based on three methodological perspectives, Community and Cultural Psychology, System Theory and Humanistic Psychology. In the systemic approach to psychosocial strain and problems the salutogenetic and resilience perspectives are emphasised. The article pays great attention to building an atmosphere of trust, establishing communication between residents by discussion methods, teaching communication based on a subject-subject model, and Virginia Satir’s approach to communication; recognition of the unique experience of the population; taking into account the ethnocultural component. The active role of rural women in business development is revealed. The importance of Family Therapy is also being discussed. The role of psychologists in the implementation of interdisciplinary projects is shown. The importance of the psychologist’s humanistic orientation in creating a developing situation is also described. The necessity of moving away from the role of an expert is shown.