Abstract
Empowerment theory has been receiving attention as the similar ethos with health promotion in the American public health since 1980's.
In this paper, we examine the significance and professional expectations of empowerment theory and practice through a review of the overseas papers.
In empowerment theory, power is defined as the ability to control the factors that affect one's life. The lack of such power is a broad health risk factor.
Empowerment is defined as a process bywhich powerless people gain control over their lives and influence organizational and societal structures.
In this paper, based on various intervention studies, we conceptualize the process of empowerment as ‘participation’ - ‘dialogue’ - ‘uplifting comradeship and sharing community problems’ -‘action’.
Having changed from a personal and subjective phenomenon to a social and objective one, The solution to powerlessness includes individual, organizational and community interventions based on social scientific knowledge.
[J.J.H.E. P, 1997; 4: 11-18]
