Addressing Social Inequalities in the Nigerian Society: The Role of Community Psychologists

Abstract

This article examines social inequality and its effects on social exclusion, poverty escalation aggravation of ill – health and political instability. Social inequality has been found to be responsible for many vices in the modern – day society which have resulted into psycho– social and mental health disorders. The psychosocial disorders have in turn culminated into rising frustration which has led to rampant suicide as witnessed on a regular basis in contemporary Nigeria. Consequently, the situation has become so tensed that corrective measures need to be taken to address the ugly situation. The Nigerian Government is therefore, urged to employ the services of community psychologists specialised in addressing community problems through various forms of interventions. Community psychologists specialised in analysing social problems and identifying their causes and effects. The main focus of community psychologists is to avert human problems, they are therefore preventive rather than curative, and hence they differ from clinical psychologists in terms of approach. This group of psychologists try to apply psychology to improve social conditions in societies in order to prevent the development of psychological and other forms of disorders. Community psychologists have realised that the prevention of social problems goes beyond change of individual person’s behaviour; it involves intervening into the social, political and physical systems that affect behaviour. This category of psychologists has certain guiding principles, such as that, social environmental factors are critically important in determining and changing behaviour. They have also spelt out guiding values such as individual wellness which encompasses the physical and psychological, social and spiritual health of citizens. They have also mapped out research areas, such as stress and mental health research area which examines the relationships among stress coping, social support and psychological well – being