Julian Rappaport

Julian Rappaport is a distinguished American psychologist known for his contributions to community psychology. He emphasized the importance of understanding individuals within their social contexts and advocated for empowering communities to solve their own problems. Rappaport introduced concepts like "psychological sense of community" and "community competence," which highlight the connections between people and their environments. His work has influenced how psychologists approach community engagement and social change, focusing on strength, resilience, and the active roles of individuals and groups in shaping their lives. Rappaport’s ideas encourage collaborative efforts to improve community wellbeing.