Abstract
Considers the usage of four somewhat amorphous, but positively valenced, community mental health terms: primary prevention in mental health (and closely related notions such as wellness enhancement and positive psychology); resilience; charter schools; and empowerment. Use of these concepts often reflects a need to align with currently popular, “in”-terminology, rather than an intrinsic connection between what is being written about and a tight definition of the concept in question. Usages built primarily around a concept's positive valence and glitter tend to: (a) break down communication; (b) confuse rather than clarify; and (c) ultimately retard a field's growth and progress.
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Cowen, E.L. Care The Use and Misuse of Some Positively Valenced Community Concepts. Community Ment Health J 37, 3–13 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026536220457
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026536220457