UNIT 1 -The History Of Psychology In Africa
The Euro – American defines Psychology
The study of thoughts , emotions and observed behavior which focuses on the scientific aspect of psychology.
Region Dates Institutions Important People Important Events
1880, Opening of the first mental
Sheikh Mohammed
1891, Al-Abssia Mental Health health hospital (1880); First
Sherif Saliem;
1895, Hospital; Cairo appearance of "psychology" in
Egypt Mohammed Nagaty;
1906, University; Higher curriculum (1906);
Lebanese and Syrian
1908, Institute for Education Recognition as a scientific
journalists
1929 discipline (1929)
1829,
1873, University of Launch of the University of
R.W. Wilcocks; E.G.
1916, Stellenbosch; University South Africa (1916); First
Malherbe; H.F.
1917, of Transkei; National experimental psychology
South Verwoerd; S.
1926, Institute for Personnel laboratory (1917); First black
Africa Biesheuvel; Chabani
1932, Research (NIPR); Human psychologist (1965); Carnegie
N. Manganyi;
1946, Science Research Commission report on "poor
Sathasivan Cooper
1965, Council whites" (1932)
1976
Establishment of Rhodes-
1937, Rhodes-Livingstone Livingstone Institute (1937);
1963, Institute; Human First experimental psychology
Professor A. Heron;
Zambia 1965, Development Research laboratory (1965); Foundation
Okonji
1968, Unit; University of of one of the first psychology
1971 Zambia departments in the region
(1968)
Egypt
• The rise of psychology was influenced by three 19th-century events: the opening of the Al-Abssia
Mental Health Hospital in 1880, the establishment of newspapers that discussed psychology, and the
expansion of the schooling system.
• Psychology transitioned from being a few courses in the philosophy department (1908) to a recognized
distinguished scientific discipline by 1929.
South Africa
• Psychology was heavily intertwined with the apartheid state, with figures like Verwoerd and Smuts
using psychological knowledge to justify racial segregation.
• The discipline saw significant internal resistance, marked by Chabani N. Manganyi becoming the first
black psychologist in 1965 and the role of Sathasivan Cooper in the Black Consciousness movement.
• Early research often focused on psychometric and intelligence testing, such as the Fick Scale (1926),
which was frequently used to make racial comparisons.
Zambia
• Psychology emerged through anthropological research aimed at serving British colonial interests.
, • A major shift occurred in 1963 when Professor A. Heron was appointed director of the Rhodes-
Livingstone Institute, leading to studies on the perceptual development of African children.
• Researchers in Zambia, such as Okonji, eventually argued that Western techniques were
inappropriate for the African context and required redefinition to fit local socio-economic realities.
Psychology and location
The word psychology derived from Greek
Psych- soul and logos – study a particular subject
In regards of etymology ( the origin and historical development of the meaning of the word ) the word
psychology is the study of the soul.
Worldview
A set of presumptions that particular people have about the world .
THE DIFFERENT AREAS IN DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA
The source material identifies several sub-disciplines and specific theoretical movements that shaped the
development of psychology in Africa. These areas were often influenced by both global scientific trends and the
local socio-political context of colonization and apartheid.
1. Biopsychology
• Meaning: This branch is concerned with the biological and physiological aspects of psychology,
specifically exploring the relationship between the body's physical systems and psychological health.
• Example: In 1913, researcher Hideyo Noguchi discovered a bacterium responsible for syphilis in the
brain of a deceased patient, which sparked investigations into how physiology impacts mental health.
2. Psychopathology
• Meaning: This is the scientific study of mental illnesses or disorders, involving the categorising,
diagnosing, and treating of human psychological problems.
• Example: In colonial South Africa, "Black insanity" was used as a diagnostic category where African
patients were often institutionalized for disrupting colonial labor regimes, such as the prophet Nontetha
Nkwenkwe.
3. Social Psychology
• Meaning: This field deals with social interactions and operates on the assumption that human
behaviour is significantly influenced by other people and the broader social context.
• Example: Early social psychology in Africa was often used to study race relations and conflict
between Black and White groups, frequently to provide information for government regulation and
social control.
4. Health Psychology
• Meaning: A subfield that investigates how social, psychological, and biological factors interact to
influence human health and illness.
• Example: Research into how the segregated and poorly resourced conditions of "native" asylums—
which often lacked proper sanitation and were fire hazards—affected the recovery and mortality rates
of Black patients.
The Euro – American defines Psychology
The study of thoughts , emotions and observed behavior which focuses on the scientific aspect of psychology.
Region Dates Institutions Important People Important Events
1880, Opening of the first mental
Sheikh Mohammed
1891, Al-Abssia Mental Health health hospital (1880); First
Sherif Saliem;
1895, Hospital; Cairo appearance of "psychology" in
Egypt Mohammed Nagaty;
1906, University; Higher curriculum (1906);
Lebanese and Syrian
1908, Institute for Education Recognition as a scientific
journalists
1929 discipline (1929)
1829,
1873, University of Launch of the University of
R.W. Wilcocks; E.G.
1916, Stellenbosch; University South Africa (1916); First
Malherbe; H.F.
1917, of Transkei; National experimental psychology
South Verwoerd; S.
1926, Institute for Personnel laboratory (1917); First black
Africa Biesheuvel; Chabani
1932, Research (NIPR); Human psychologist (1965); Carnegie
N. Manganyi;
1946, Science Research Commission report on "poor
Sathasivan Cooper
1965, Council whites" (1932)
1976
Establishment of Rhodes-
1937, Rhodes-Livingstone Livingstone Institute (1937);
1963, Institute; Human First experimental psychology
Professor A. Heron;
Zambia 1965, Development Research laboratory (1965); Foundation
Okonji
1968, Unit; University of of one of the first psychology
1971 Zambia departments in the region
(1968)
Egypt
• The rise of psychology was influenced by three 19th-century events: the opening of the Al-Abssia
Mental Health Hospital in 1880, the establishment of newspapers that discussed psychology, and the
expansion of the schooling system.
• Psychology transitioned from being a few courses in the philosophy department (1908) to a recognized
distinguished scientific discipline by 1929.
South Africa
• Psychology was heavily intertwined with the apartheid state, with figures like Verwoerd and Smuts
using psychological knowledge to justify racial segregation.
• The discipline saw significant internal resistance, marked by Chabani N. Manganyi becoming the first
black psychologist in 1965 and the role of Sathasivan Cooper in the Black Consciousness movement.
• Early research often focused on psychometric and intelligence testing, such as the Fick Scale (1926),
which was frequently used to make racial comparisons.
Zambia
• Psychology emerged through anthropological research aimed at serving British colonial interests.
, • A major shift occurred in 1963 when Professor A. Heron was appointed director of the Rhodes-
Livingstone Institute, leading to studies on the perceptual development of African children.
• Researchers in Zambia, such as Okonji, eventually argued that Western techniques were
inappropriate for the African context and required redefinition to fit local socio-economic realities.
Psychology and location
The word psychology derived from Greek
Psych- soul and logos – study a particular subject
In regards of etymology ( the origin and historical development of the meaning of the word ) the word
psychology is the study of the soul.
Worldview
A set of presumptions that particular people have about the world .
THE DIFFERENT AREAS IN DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA
The source material identifies several sub-disciplines and specific theoretical movements that shaped the
development of psychology in Africa. These areas were often influenced by both global scientific trends and the
local socio-political context of colonization and apartheid.
1. Biopsychology
• Meaning: This branch is concerned with the biological and physiological aspects of psychology,
specifically exploring the relationship between the body's physical systems and psychological health.
• Example: In 1913, researcher Hideyo Noguchi discovered a bacterium responsible for syphilis in the
brain of a deceased patient, which sparked investigations into how physiology impacts mental health.
2. Psychopathology
• Meaning: This is the scientific study of mental illnesses or disorders, involving the categorising,
diagnosing, and treating of human psychological problems.
• Example: In colonial South Africa, "Black insanity" was used as a diagnostic category where African
patients were often institutionalized for disrupting colonial labor regimes, such as the prophet Nontetha
Nkwenkwe.
3. Social Psychology
• Meaning: This field deals with social interactions and operates on the assumption that human
behaviour is significantly influenced by other people and the broader social context.
• Example: Early social psychology in Africa was often used to study race relations and conflict
between Black and White groups, frequently to provide information for government regulation and
social control.
4. Health Psychology
• Meaning: A subfield that investigates how social, psychological, and biological factors interact to
influence human health and illness.
• Example: Research into how the segregated and poorly resourced conditions of "native" asylums—
which often lacked proper sanitation and were fire hazards—affected the recovery and mortality rates
of Black patients.
