Proles Pod Ep 95 - Critical Psychology and Marx (w/ Frank, of r/counterpsych)
Dec 3, 2025
Frank Gruba-McCallister, co-author of The Revolutionary Psychologist's Guide to Radical Therapy and operator of r/counterpsych, dives into the intersection of Marxism and mental health. He critiques the limitations of positivism in psychology, highlighting how it mystifies social issues. Frank emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior within social contexts and argues capitalism is the root cause of social suffering. He advocates for a compassion-based approach to therapy and calls for a revolutionary shift in psychology that prioritizes systemic change.
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Psychology Must Include Power
- Critical psychology links social power and personal suffering to explain mental distress under capitalism.
- It challenges positivist neutrality and shows ideology shapes diagnoses and treatments.
The Market As Mystifying Force
- Capitalism mystifies social arrangements by presenting market forces as natural and unchangeable.
- That mystification disempowers people and prevents collective action.
We Are Radically Social Beings
- Humans are radically social beings and psychology must restore the dialectic between personal and social.
- Critical stance means challenging 'common sense' hegemonic ideas like innate greed or competition.
