18 Feb. 20
BRIEF HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Reading:
Van Ommen, C. & Painter, D. (2008) (Eds). Interiors: a history of
psychology in South Africa. Cape Town: University of South Africa
Press.
BEGINNINGS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Custodialism
- Late 19th/early 20th century
Interventionism (1920s)
- Appointment of psychologists
- Standardisation of intelligence tests
Overarching spirit of scientific racism
- Hierarchy of races (SAAAA - 1920)
- Justification for segregation
WHY SEGREGATION?
The ‘poor white’ problem
concentration camps
white landlessness
Farmer debt/bankruptcy
cheap black labour
- Fear of miscegenation
- Overturning of the existing racial order
Study into “poor white’ problem
E.G. Malherbe calls for an interdisciplinary
Carnegie Corp. set aside funds (1927)
‘poor white’
recommendations included:
- Job reservation
- Segregation in the workplace
Based on (rigged) norms // Boston Naming Test
Psychology proved its usefulness
Psychology served racial capitalism
(in this case, to screw people over)
OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Muya Koloko PSY1004F
BRIEF HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Reading:
Van Ommen, C. & Painter, D. (2008) (Eds). Interiors: a history of
psychology in South Africa. Cape Town: University of South Africa
Press.
BEGINNINGS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Custodialism
- Late 19th/early 20th century
Interventionism (1920s)
- Appointment of psychologists
- Standardisation of intelligence tests
Overarching spirit of scientific racism
- Hierarchy of races (SAAAA - 1920)
- Justification for segregation
WHY SEGREGATION?
The ‘poor white’ problem
concentration camps
white landlessness
Farmer debt/bankruptcy
cheap black labour
- Fear of miscegenation
- Overturning of the existing racial order
Study into “poor white’ problem
E.G. Malherbe calls for an interdisciplinary
Carnegie Corp. set aside funds (1927)
‘poor white’
recommendations included:
- Job reservation
- Segregation in the workplace
Based on (rigged) norms // Boston Naming Test
Psychology proved its usefulness
Psychology served racial capitalism
(in this case, to screw people over)
OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Muya Koloko PSY1004F
