P114: Decolonisation of Psychology (week 1)
PSYCHOLOGY: scientific study of mind, mental processes, human behaviour
psych is powerful = shapes ways in w. we think about ourselves/others
used to reveal deeper existences/meaning in ourselves = we protect ourselves by analysing others/self (BUT also unfairly
judge people)
LANGUAGE OF PSYCHOLOGY:
Psych constructed language for us to talk about our ‘individual self’ = we take it for granted
e.g. introvert vs extrovert; narcissism; passive aggressive
language of psych was shaped by history = trace underlying assumptions used in t. past to understand people + how we use
psych knowledge to understand ourselves in t. present
WHY TRANSFORM PSYCH?
lacks cross-cultural reference = myth of sameness + assumption of universality
conceptualised in Western terms + operates from monocultural theory
MUST be made ↑ responsive to needs of culturally diverse by examining different cultural values
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY:
WHY IS IT NB?
knowledge production in psych traditionally Eurocentric + positivist = neglects mental health concerns of racial groups +
social injustices they suffered
need for development of different paradigms/models to represent reality of oppressed = AFROCENTRIC PARADIGM
WESTERN/ EUROCENTRIC: reflects interests/ideas of white, heterosexual, middle class, educated Americans/Europeans
POSITIVIST-EMPIRICAL: scientific/factual knowledge can only be produced in observable/objective/controlled environments
STUDENTS: are taught mainstream psychology
decolonise my experiences
ignores cultural roles/values/beliefs
not relevant = cant help people
*ask if knowledge if relevant to your situation!*
If we fail to acknowledge t. history of knowledge = we allow it to speak on our behalf
APARTHEID & PSYCHOLOGY:
2 KEY DETERMINANTS SHAPED SA: racism + apartheid
psych supported apartheid ideologies + perpetuated t. system = allowed racism to thrive through psychology bc. It was used
to shape how people thought
DECOLONISATION OF PSYCH:
DECOLONISATION OF PSYCH: questioning/challenging mainstream models of psychology
WHY DECOLONISE PSYCH?
reproduction of knowledge at universities are influenced by colonialism (oppressive systems) + detached from students’
realities/social + cultural context
by ignoring social/cultural/political/historical contexts: societal problems aren’t taken into account = individualS are wrongly
held responsible for their psych problems
WHY ARE ACADEMIC SCHOLARS RELUCTANT TO LAY OUT THEORIES OF DECOLONISATION?
risk of produced knowledge/ideas becoming unchallenged mainstream psych
decolonisation is about continuously challenging ideas
theories must not become another fixed body
DECOLONISATION
, LIBERATION PSYCH CULTURAL PSYCH
influenced by context of longstanding colonialism (e.g. relationship of mind + culture is dynamic/mutually
South America) constituted:
SOCIAL JUSTICE individual society
emphasis on oppressed voice (i.e. experiences, equal force
knowledge, perspectives)
sociocultural constitution: society/culture structures
individual experience
psych constitution: individuals shape society/culture
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PSYCHOLOGY & COLONIALISM:
COLONIAL VIOLENCE
1. occupying land + controlling resources 2. mental colonisation:
“occupation of being” (Bulhan)
native people suffer severe inferiority complexes (i.e.
skin, identity, culture, etc.) (Fanon)
psychological violence to one’s identity
FANON:
POSTCOLONIALISM: investigates unequal relations between colonizer/colonized + psychological effects thereof
unequal relationship + domination = constructed racial/ethnic identity + foundation for objectifying natives (as
abnormal/inferior beings)
neurosis of blackness develops = internalisation of colonisers’ projections of hatred/envy
*ENVY: men: ↑ muscularity/stronger/faster black men ; women: ↑ fertile/bigger breasts
COLONIAL HISTORY NB:
meaning is attributed to looking/being white + EUROCENTRIC PSYCH.
black privilege consciousness pf whites + neglects blacks’
experiences
SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT:
Dutch + British formally colonised SA
Apartheid regime = extension of colonialism
One culture (European decent) dominating
Sensitised all people to skin colour t. persists in post-apartheid
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PSYCHOLOGY: scientific study of mind, mental processes, human behaviour
psych is powerful = shapes ways in w. we think about ourselves/others
used to reveal deeper existences/meaning in ourselves = we protect ourselves by analysing others/self (BUT also unfairly
judge people)
LANGUAGE OF PSYCHOLOGY:
Psych constructed language for us to talk about our ‘individual self’ = we take it for granted
e.g. introvert vs extrovert; narcissism; passive aggressive
language of psych was shaped by history = trace underlying assumptions used in t. past to understand people + how we use
psych knowledge to understand ourselves in t. present
WHY TRANSFORM PSYCH?
lacks cross-cultural reference = myth of sameness + assumption of universality
conceptualised in Western terms + operates from monocultural theory
MUST be made ↑ responsive to needs of culturally diverse by examining different cultural values
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY:
WHY IS IT NB?
knowledge production in psych traditionally Eurocentric + positivist = neglects mental health concerns of racial groups +
social injustices they suffered
need for development of different paradigms/models to represent reality of oppressed = AFROCENTRIC PARADIGM
WESTERN/ EUROCENTRIC: reflects interests/ideas of white, heterosexual, middle class, educated Americans/Europeans
POSITIVIST-EMPIRICAL: scientific/factual knowledge can only be produced in observable/objective/controlled environments
STUDENTS: are taught mainstream psychology
decolonise my experiences
ignores cultural roles/values/beliefs
not relevant = cant help people
*ask if knowledge if relevant to your situation!*
If we fail to acknowledge t. history of knowledge = we allow it to speak on our behalf
APARTHEID & PSYCHOLOGY:
2 KEY DETERMINANTS SHAPED SA: racism + apartheid
psych supported apartheid ideologies + perpetuated t. system = allowed racism to thrive through psychology bc. It was used
to shape how people thought
DECOLONISATION OF PSYCH:
DECOLONISATION OF PSYCH: questioning/challenging mainstream models of psychology
WHY DECOLONISE PSYCH?
reproduction of knowledge at universities are influenced by colonialism (oppressive systems) + detached from students’
realities/social + cultural context
by ignoring social/cultural/political/historical contexts: societal problems aren’t taken into account = individualS are wrongly
held responsible for their psych problems
WHY ARE ACADEMIC SCHOLARS RELUCTANT TO LAY OUT THEORIES OF DECOLONISATION?
risk of produced knowledge/ideas becoming unchallenged mainstream psych
decolonisation is about continuously challenging ideas
theories must not become another fixed body
DECOLONISATION
, LIBERATION PSYCH CULTURAL PSYCH
influenced by context of longstanding colonialism (e.g. relationship of mind + culture is dynamic/mutually
South America) constituted:
SOCIAL JUSTICE individual society
emphasis on oppressed voice (i.e. experiences, equal force
knowledge, perspectives)
sociocultural constitution: society/culture structures
individual experience
psych constitution: individuals shape society/culture
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PSYCHOLOGY & COLONIALISM:
COLONIAL VIOLENCE
1. occupying land + controlling resources 2. mental colonisation:
“occupation of being” (Bulhan)
native people suffer severe inferiority complexes (i.e.
skin, identity, culture, etc.) (Fanon)
psychological violence to one’s identity
FANON:
POSTCOLONIALISM: investigates unequal relations between colonizer/colonized + psychological effects thereof
unequal relationship + domination = constructed racial/ethnic identity + foundation for objectifying natives (as
abnormal/inferior beings)
neurosis of blackness develops = internalisation of colonisers’ projections of hatred/envy
*ENVY: men: ↑ muscularity/stronger/faster black men ; women: ↑ fertile/bigger breasts
COLONIAL HISTORY NB:
meaning is attributed to looking/being white + EUROCENTRIC PSYCH.
black privilege consciousness pf whites + neglects blacks’
experiences
SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT:
Dutch + British formally colonised SA
Apartheid regime = extension of colonialism
One culture (European decent) dominating
Sensitised all people to skin colour t. persists in post-apartheid
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
