A new study from Italy argues that clinical psychology’s claim to neutrality obscures its role in reinforcing social power structures—and offers a bold vision for transforming the field.
In their provocative new study, Matteo Bessone, Francesco Lo Bianco, and Gianluca D’Amico argue that clinical psychology, far from being neutral, is deeply embedded in—and often complicit with—systems of inequality. They call for a radical transformation of the discipline, urging practitioners to shift from an individualistic focus to an ecological and psychopolitical approach that acknowledges the social determinants of mental health and works to dismantle oppressive structures.
As Bessone, Loc Bianco, and D’Amico point out:
“Despite the increased availability and accessibility of psychological interventions, the public’s increased familiarity with clinical constructs, and the exponential growth in the number of psychologists, no data demonstrate a significant improvement in the health and well-being of citizens, nor does it seem possible to indicate a substantial change in the social structures that influence and shapes these conditions.”
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