AFRICAN
PERSPECTIVES
PYC2601
, Which of the following most accurately explain why a
indigenous African psychology did not develop?
a. Most of the studies undertaken with African people have been done from a Western-oriented framework, wh
has resulted in understandings that are not always applicable to African people
b. Mainstream psychology is predominantly a Euro-Americocentric science, which was exported to Africa and t
East, with the result that to date a specific personality theory from a purely African perspective has not been
developed.
c. According to Nsemang most African people have neither heard nor know the meaning of the term psycholog
Thereby reducing the likelihood of research on an indigenous African psychology being conducted.
d. The theories and methods of psychology are still Eurocentric, resulting in its primary focus being on topics th
exclude indigenous African knowledge and ways of being.
The correct answer is:
(1) All of the above
(2) (a) & (b)
(3) (b), (c) & (d)
(4) None of the above
1
,Thandi is very ill and goes to see her local doctor. After two weeks she has still not recovered an
advice of her mother goes to visit the local sangoma. Which one of the following stateme
accurately reflects the different understandings of Thandi’s illness arrived at by the Western do
traditional African sangoma?
1. According to the doctor, Thandi is personally responsible for her illness as she eats too
unhealthy food, while the sangoma understood the cause of Thandi’s illness as resulting from
neighbour having bewitched her.
2. Thandi’s doctor believed that the cause of her illness resulted from the stress she was und
her work environment is very competitive. The sangoma agreed with this diagnosis and bel
that Thandi did not recover after two weeks because she failed to take the doctor’s advice.
3. The doctor believed that the cause of Thandi’s illness could be explained in terms o
interpersonal dynamics, whereas the sangoma tended to emphasise her intrapsychic dynam
his causal explanation.
4. According to the doctor, Thandi is not personally responsible for her illness or how i
progressed, as she cannot control the germs in the air. The sangoma however viewed Than
personally responsible as she must have upset the ancestors in order to develop the ty
illness that she did.
1
, Betty uses a logical approach to plan her work activities and moves systematically throug
the 10 items she has prioritised, while Veronica prefers to select a task to focus on, in term
of the time of day and her available energy levels. Which one of the following statemen
about this story’s reflection on the cognitive functioning and conception of time favoured b
traditional Africans and Westerners is the most correct?
1. Betty’s logical systematic approach reflects the Western view of time as a mathematical construct and is better th
the more haphazard traditional African approach to planning exemplified by Veronica.
2. Veronica’s approach is more in keeping with the traditional African view of being in time rather than on time’ and w
ensure a better quality of work output than Betty’s Western approach, which forces her to work against her ow
natural rhythms.
3. Betty’s logical approach to planning exemplifies the Western preference for intuitive rationality in cognit
functioning, while Veronica’s approach may be said to reflect the traditional African preference for pure rationality.
4. Betty’s logical and systematic approach reflects the Western preference for ‘the logic of reason’ while Veronic
more intuitive approach better reflects the traditional African preference for the logic of the heart’ in cognit
functioning.
4
PERSPECTIVES
PYC2601
, Which of the following most accurately explain why a
indigenous African psychology did not develop?
a. Most of the studies undertaken with African people have been done from a Western-oriented framework, wh
has resulted in understandings that are not always applicable to African people
b. Mainstream psychology is predominantly a Euro-Americocentric science, which was exported to Africa and t
East, with the result that to date a specific personality theory from a purely African perspective has not been
developed.
c. According to Nsemang most African people have neither heard nor know the meaning of the term psycholog
Thereby reducing the likelihood of research on an indigenous African psychology being conducted.
d. The theories and methods of psychology are still Eurocentric, resulting in its primary focus being on topics th
exclude indigenous African knowledge and ways of being.
The correct answer is:
(1) All of the above
(2) (a) & (b)
(3) (b), (c) & (d)
(4) None of the above
1
,Thandi is very ill and goes to see her local doctor. After two weeks she has still not recovered an
advice of her mother goes to visit the local sangoma. Which one of the following stateme
accurately reflects the different understandings of Thandi’s illness arrived at by the Western do
traditional African sangoma?
1. According to the doctor, Thandi is personally responsible for her illness as she eats too
unhealthy food, while the sangoma understood the cause of Thandi’s illness as resulting from
neighbour having bewitched her.
2. Thandi’s doctor believed that the cause of her illness resulted from the stress she was und
her work environment is very competitive. The sangoma agreed with this diagnosis and bel
that Thandi did not recover after two weeks because she failed to take the doctor’s advice.
3. The doctor believed that the cause of Thandi’s illness could be explained in terms o
interpersonal dynamics, whereas the sangoma tended to emphasise her intrapsychic dynam
his causal explanation.
4. According to the doctor, Thandi is not personally responsible for her illness or how i
progressed, as she cannot control the germs in the air. The sangoma however viewed Than
personally responsible as she must have upset the ancestors in order to develop the ty
illness that she did.
1
, Betty uses a logical approach to plan her work activities and moves systematically throug
the 10 items she has prioritised, while Veronica prefers to select a task to focus on, in term
of the time of day and her available energy levels. Which one of the following statemen
about this story’s reflection on the cognitive functioning and conception of time favoured b
traditional Africans and Westerners is the most correct?
1. Betty’s logical systematic approach reflects the Western view of time as a mathematical construct and is better th
the more haphazard traditional African approach to planning exemplified by Veronica.
2. Veronica’s approach is more in keeping with the traditional African view of being in time rather than on time’ and w
ensure a better quality of work output than Betty’s Western approach, which forces her to work against her ow
natural rhythms.
3. Betty’s logical approach to planning exemplifies the Western preference for intuitive rationality in cognit
functioning, while Veronica’s approach may be said to reflect the traditional African preference for pure rationality.
4. Betty’s logical and systematic approach reflects the Western preference for ‘the logic of reason’ while Veronic
more intuitive approach better reflects the traditional African preference for the logic of the heart’ in cognit
functioning.
4
