Paper short abstract:

Expertise stemming from the psy disciplines is incorporated increasingly into international development policy and practise. Through examining two areas of psy expertise, we argue that caution should be applied in using such approaches in development policy.

Paper long abstract:

Expertise stemming from the psy disciplines (social psychology, child developmental psychology, psychiatry and positive psychology) is increasingly incorporated into international development policy and practise. Whilst some policy makers have seen the use of psy expertise as a new way to reduce poverty, increase economic efficiency and promote wellbeing, we argue that caution should be applied when considering psy knowledge in development policy.

This paper specifically analyses two aspects of psy knowledge used in contemporary development policy: the inclusion of mental health into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS); and the incorporation of behavioural economics in development policy, specifically in regards to shaping individual agency and decision making. Through this analysis, we explore how the take up of psy-expertise in developmental policy making marks the further individualisation and pathologisation of poverty. Also, when situated within wider power dynamics, subjugation and global capital, there is a risk that the psychological domain is targeted for instrumental purposes by political and economic actors, having neo-colonial implications.

Finally, we seek to historically situate what some have called the 'psychologisation' of international development. We will explore the accuracy of understanding this process as 'new', when in fact development has, since its inception, sought to shift and shape mentalities, and the discipline of psychology has long been tied to development and colonial projects.