In recent years, the urgency of addressing global crises—ranging from climate change to social injustices—has become an overwhelming priority across scientific disciplines. Psychology, as a field dedicated to understanding human behavior and mental processes, plays a pivotal role in shaping collective responses to these challenges. However, a groundbreaking new perspective is emerging, as outlined in the forthcoming 2025 article by Kutlaca, Radke, and Uluğ, published in Communications Psychology. The authors argue for a paradigmatic shift in psychology’s engagement: from what they term “selective allyship” toward “empowered actions” that more effectively mobilize psychological insights and methodologies in the service of global crises.
“Selective allyship,” as defined in this context, refers to the tendency within psychological research and practice to address social and environmental issues in a piecemeal or tokenistic manner. This selective approach can manifest as superficial support—such as endorsing diversity statements without systemic change—or focusing on isolated interventions that fail to influence larger societal dynamics. Kutlaca and colleagues suggest that this insufficient engagement leaves the true transformative potential of psychology untapped. Instead, they propose the adoption of actively “empowered actions,” which involve sustained, systemic, and evidence-based efforts that transcend symbolic gestures.
One critical aspect of transitioning from selective allyship to empowered actions involves re-examining the theoretical frameworks psychologists utilize. Traditional models of individual behavior and cognition often overlook the complex interplay between personal agency and structural constraints that underpin global crises. Kutlaca et al. emphasize the need to integrate ecological and sociopolitical perspectives into psychological theories, encouraging researchers to view behavior within the broader context of societal systems and environmental interdependencies. This holistic viewpoint promises to reveal leverage points for interventions that can propagate large-scale transformation.
Furthermore, the article underscores the importance of methodological innovation in operationalizing empowered actions. Conventional psychological research tends to rely heavily on controlled, laboratory-based experiments, which, while valuable for establishing internal validity, may lack ecological validity when applied to multifaceted global challenges. Kutlaca and colleagues advocate for transdisciplinary methodologies that bridge psychology with fields such as environmental science, political science, and public health. Employing mixed methods, longitudinal designs, and community-based participatory research can capture the dynamic, context-dependent nature of behaviors implicated in crises like climate change and systemic inequality.
Critically, the authors draw attention to the ethical imperatives inherent in psychological research and practice related to global crises. Empowered actions must be underpinned by commitments to equity, justice, and inclusivity, ensuring that marginalized communities are not merely subjects of study but co-creators in the development and implementation of interventions. This ethical grounding contrasts starkly with selective allyship’s tendency to reinforce existing power imbalances or to exploit social causes for institutional gain without delivering meaningful change.
A notable contribution of the article lies in its policy-oriented recommendations. Kutlaca et al. call upon psychologists to engage more proactively with policymakers, media, and the public in translating empirical findings into actionable strategies. They propose establishing collaborative platforms that foster dialogue among scientists, governments, grassroots organizations, and affected populations. This ecosystemic approach aims to dismantle silos and promote integrated responses capable of addressing the scale and urgency of contemporary crises.
Within the domain of climate psychology, the authors highlight the necessity of moving beyond awareness campaigns to interventions designed to catalyze collective efficacy and sustained behavioral change. Psychological theories of motivation, identity, and social norms are instrumental here but must be contextualized within socio-ecological models that recognize systemic barriers to action. Empowered actions include facilitating participatory decision-making processes and fostering resilience and hope rather than despair, thus counteracting psychological fatigue and eco-anxiety.
Similarly, when confronting systemic social inequities, the article insists on psychology’s role in challenging institutionalized discrimination and fostering societal transformation. Empowered actions might encompass advocating for anti-racist policies, developing culturally responsive mental health services, and conducting longitudinal research that assesses the impact of social reforms on psychological well-being. These efforts represent a radical departure from tokenistic allyship, emphasizing accountability, structural change, and empowerment.
Moreover, Kutlaca and colleagues emphasize the importance of educational reform in psychology training programs. They argue for curricula that equip future psychologists with the skills to critically assess global crises and participate in interdisciplinary teams. This includes fostering competencies in systems thinking, cultural humility, advocacy, and ethical leadership. Integrating these elements into training will empower professionals to transcend disciplinary boundaries and embrace the complexities of real-world problem-solving.
The article also investigates barriers to implementing empowered actions within the psychological community. Institutional inertia, fragmented funding priorities, and a disciplinary culture favoring individual-level interventions over systemic change are significant obstacles. Kutlaca et al. propose strategies to overcome these barriers, including incentivizing collaborative and translational research, revising publication standards to value social impact, and promoting open science practices to democratize knowledge dissemination.
An innovative discussion in the paper centers on the role of technology and digital platforms in scaling empowered psychological actions. The authors highlight the potential of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and virtual reality environments in crafting personalized yet scalable interventions targeting behaviors detrimental to planetary and social health. Nonetheless, ethical considerations related to privacy, bias, and digital equity are paramount and must be rigorously addressed to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.
In sum, the research presented convincingly argues that psychology’s future relevance hinges on a robust integration of empowerment paradigms into research, practice, and policy influences related to global crises. This entails moving beyond symbolic displays of allyship to embrace substantive, systemic, and sustained engagement with the complex challenges humanity faces. Such a transformation promises to amplify psychology’s impact and contribute meaningfully to a more just and sustainable world.
This perspective is timely given the accelerating pace of environmental degradation, pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, and socio-economic disparities. Psychological sciences stand at a crossroads, where entrenched traditions may either be renewed or rendered obsolete by their capacity to evolve and meet contemporary demands. The call to action outlined by Kutlaca and colleagues is thus both a challenge and an opportunity for the discipline to reimagine its societal role profoundly.
As the global community grapples with intersecting crises, the insights underscored in this article provide a critical roadmap. Empowered psychological action, characterized by integrative approaches, ethical commitments, and systemic thinking, could serve as a catalyst for transformative social innovation. It is imperative that psychological science embraces this shift to fulfill its potential as an agent of positive global change.
Subject of Research: Psychological science’s role in shifting from selective allyship to empowered, systemic interventions addressing global crises.
Article Title: Psychology should move from selective allyship to empowered actions to tackle global crises.
Article References:
Kutlaca, M., Radke, H.R.M. & Uluğ, Ö.M. Psychology should move from selective allyship to empowered actions to tackle global crises. Commun Psychol 3, 133 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00316-4
Image Credits: AI Generated
