Why an indigenous African psychology not develop? Essay

My recent learning experience was from champion of my psychology facultys. The prescribed book is Personology from individual to ecosystem, chapter 17 i.e. African perspective. The control point of this chapter is Why an indigenous African psychology non brace? The chapter cited the importation of the mainstream psychology a predominately Euro-American science into Africa resulting in a escape of development of a purely African soulology theory. Several recommendations be do in terms of how this can be changed or improved. Also cover in this chapter is the return on Views on psychopathology Some of the sub-topics cover includedHow do tralatitious Africans view illness and pathological conduct? The role of ancestors in the travels of customal AfricansThe difference in the midst of the African and western purposeions of stress Dreams, spirits and sorcerersThe link between psychformer(a)apy and traditional betterAs an African it was non difficult to relate some of my experiences to what was explained in the terms of the African believes and practices. Recommendations were made to psychologist practicing in Africa on how to treat African patients in line with their effects. The aha-moment for me was when I ac experienced the African bearing of existent which I myself and my immediate family do non practice. This brought me back to Freires farming of silence from SCK 201-3 staff guide. Freire defines the socialization of silence as heathen impingement where invaders penetrate the cultural context of an early(a) group. Colonisation and militarisation potentiality be said to be conducive to the development of the culture of silence. I found the insight into colonisation very interesting. being a fateful African who stays in Africa I am in person non complaining that I refuse to believe in ancestors or traditional healers. I person anyy feel that colonisation did bring a ring of change to Africa the question I asked myself is at what cost? Africa has natural resources, we bring on been civilised and educated provided majority ofAfrican countries be equable dependant on European aid. Why? I enjoyed sharing and debating the Views on psychopathology and Freires theory with my work colleagues. We all conceded that even though we are liberated and gained independence we are relieve indirectly colonised. We withal reached a consensus that corruption and lack of accountability are some of the reasons that are delaying progress in Africa. thither are so creationy divergent perspectives to psychology that explain the different types of behaviour. No matchless perspective has explanatory powers over the rest. Some contradict unitary another, overlap with each other or build upon wiz another. Behaviourist perspective is different from some other approaches because deal (and animals) are viewed as controlled by their environment and specifically that mickle are the result of what they have learned from thei r environment. Behaviourism is refer with how environmental factors go observable behaviour. The psychosexual perspective by Freud believes that events in the great unwasheds childhood can have a prodigious impact on behaviour as adults. Feud a give care believed that people have little free will to piddle plectrums in invigoration and that gracious behaviour is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences. Humanistic psychology emphasizes the postulate of the person as a hale (holistic approach). This perspective suggests that each person is responsible for their own happiness and well- existence.It suggests that worldly concern have innate capacity for self-actualization which is a unique desire to extend to mavin(a)s highest potential as a person. Because of this focus on the person and his or her in-person experiences and subjective perception of the world, the humanists regarded scientific methods as inappropriate for playing fielding behaviour . Cognitive psychology perspective focuses on the study of cognition which is the mental act or process by which hunchledge is acquired. It is an extremely scientific approach where lab experiments are used to study human behaviour. Biological psychologists explain behaviours in neurological terms, i.e. the physiology and structure of the drumhead and how this influences behaviour. many an(prenominal) biological psychologists have concentrated on abnormal behaviour and have tried to explain it. Critical psychology challenges mainstream psychology by looking towards social change as a center of preventing and treating psychopathology. atomic number 53 of criticalpsychologys main criticisms of conventional psychology is that it ignores the way power differences between social classes and groups can impact the mental and somatogenetic well-being of individuals or groups of people. It does this, in part, because it tends to explain behaviour at the aim of the individual. I agree w ith the notion that conventional psychologys choice of ignoring the impact the difference in social classes and groups has on mental health does not give a holistic view of human behaviour. It is cognise that meagerness, illiteracy, alienation have some form of impact on peerlesss mental state. The different ways or choices that people make to better their lives and the fact that some people make it kayoed of the passing cycle and some fail is a clear indication that these factors affect people differently. Doing to a greater extent research in this regard should provide a clearer picture.Question 3Personhood and becoming in African thoughtAs stated in the prescribed text, in African thought and belief a person is not complete until certain rituals are performed to discard them as complete. Starting from birth those that practice the African culture do the imbeleko to introduce the child to the ancestors. Those that choose to follow the Christian practice baptise the child a nd give thanks to God. As children grow into teenagers, boys are send to the mountain as practiced as a rebirth to humankind by many cultural groups. For exemplification, the Ndebele confederation that still practice this tradition do not have respect for a man that has not been circumcised. It is said that Ndebele man also prefer to marry their fellow Ndebele females who still practice female circumcision which is also used as a novelty to womanhood. A woman from another culture who knows nothing roughly the Ndebele culture who marries a Ndebele man is often expected to put up with this process in order to be respected and be qualified to be a woman. These two African traditions are still widely practiced but there is a shift where some people decide to go the western route. In light of health concerns and young man end because of botched circumcisions parents prefer to have their children circumcised in hospital. Vigilance regarding oppressive practices anthropoid circum cision is encouraged curiously in a country like southward Africa where there are challenges with HIV and AIDS. It is public knowledge that the practice minimises the observe of contracting the disease. Questions are raised in relation to the process and procedures followed to work out this through. It has been said that the boys undergo various tests and are given guidance and advice by elders to help prepare them for manhood. In light of this some parents send their kids to hospital for circumcision to avoid any medical complications and loss of life history. They are then direct to the mountain to undergo the transition that will prepare them for manhood. In a community like the Ndebeles, young men decide to undergo rise as it is a root of their identity element and to avoid the shame of being labelled a boy. Coming to the female circumcision, in South Africa especially in the Ndebele culture it is still clouded in secrecy. No nonpareil knows exactly what other rituals ar e performed during the opening. I personally do not know the benefits of the practice. What I have read and thrown on TV from other countries for example Kenya, the main reason behind this practice is purely for the pastime of the girls future husband.Young woman and girls are ruthlessly mutilated notwithstanding because they are expected to sexually satisfy their husbands once they get married. many another(prenominal) African countries have criminalised the practice but it is still practiced because man shun woman that have not undergone the procedure or transition to womanhood. One practice that is close to internal that I personally feel is discriminatory against woman just like female circumcision is the virginity examen (reed dance). It can be argued that it helps discourage girls from participating in sexual activities and that it helps bring down HIV infection. The fact that woman alone are expected to undergo such an invasive practice when it takes two people to eng age in sex is tantamount to discrimination against woman.Initiation as a race from exteriority to interiorityI agree with the text that initiation is a process by which people discover themselves through others and their community. From having lived with the Ndebele community I keep back the notion that for many of the young man and woman that choose to undergo initiation they do it because it is the root of their identity. For example, anyone who has decided not to undergoinitiation is often not seen as a true Ndebele. The person is not merely labelled and shunned by the community it is also believed that his ancestors will not know him. Ubuntu as a processMy understanding of Ubuntu is simply human kindness. A person is a person through other people. It is about recognising a fellow human being, treating them with respect and dignity for the person they are whether mysterious or poor. This saying is mostly associated with cruddy communities because a human being is not seen as an individual but as a collective of family and the community. Ubuntu as a process serve as testimony when community members come together to assist a family when they have lost a love one. It is also evident when there is no shame in borrowing sugar from a neighbour. For example, to prove the concept that a person is a person through other people, families that choose not to attend funerals or assist other families when they are bereaved no villager will bother to offer support or even attend a funeral should that family loose a love one. The human being as a community of selvesI believe a human being is what they are because of where they come from. Im referring to culture, beliefs of ones parents and ones community in general. When growing up all these beliefs are instilled in oneself. It is only when one is independent and out of the family unit when they can either decide to continue with what they were taught at home or decide on a new way to live their lives. For example one s parents may believe in transmitted worship and have their children who grew up experiencing the practice but decide on Christianity and deny of the existence of ancestors. Question 4My community of is located in Ninapark suburb in Pretoria North. It is a middle class albumen dominant community. It is a clean, serene and quite community to live in. there is not much natural action during week days especially during the day. on that point is mostly activity in the mornings when people go to work or take their children to school. The same activities occur in the evenings. Domestic workers and gardeners are also part of the community. The most enjoyable citing in the evenings is people taking walks or jogging. Domestic workers are also seen in the evenings in groups gambling. Thestreet where my family and I live is a underage street and all our neighbours are retired. legion(predicate) are family members who have been residing in the area for more than twenty long time. There i s a public park about a kilometre from the hearth which is where many use especially those with children. There is an orphanage, a church, a refilling centre, a golf course, and a small shopping centre. All these are a walking distance from home. The shopping centre is always alert in the evenings. There is a woollies food grocery shop which we all love, a spar grocery shop, a KFC, a pharmacy, a witness shop, a travel centre, a pet shop and a handful of restaurants.I am mentioning all these shops because I feel that just as I love staying in Ninapark because the community has admission charge to all these facilities or resources just a walking distance from our homes many community members voice the same sentiment. We (the community) have found ourselves the target of detestation just like many communities in South Africa. Because there is not much activity during the day thieves come across in without being seen. Many in my small street are victims of crime including me. I have found that this violation of our homes has brought the community together in trying to find ways to encounter crime. This is one thing that we all have in common. Apart from that there isnt much socialising. Every one minds their own business. One seldom sees kids playing in the street. The only time when one gets a materialise to talk to neighbours is when by misfortune we meet outside our homes for a walk. Many of my neighbours do not even know my name. If anything happens for example a break in all we do is to sympathise with the victim and it ends there.We are all locked behind our high walls and security gates. There is definitely no socialisation. Being a black African from a untaught village, life in the city is completely different from where I was born. There is caring and compassion, for example when a family losses a love one. It is a norm for community members to go a share their grief and offer support. This is not only psychological but also in assisting the family to prepare for the funeral. Each star sign within the community contributes an amount agreed by the community and the money is given to the family. On the day of the funeral everyone from the community attends as a pose of support. There is no culture of individuality but communalism. Life in the city is a stark contrast of communalism. I find it is more individually orientated. No one meddles in anyones business. Yes there is price of admission to everything, basicservices, health facilities but no community based support. In terms of community justice, since it is in our constitution by law we are all expected to acknowledge human rights. It is not only the province of government but also of citizens and the government. Yes, there are cases where this is not the case. What I have observed in the city is that many people know their rights and if contravened they have options for recourse including using the law. This is not always the case with coarse communities as man y do not know what their human rights are. What I have also observed in the city are the rich exploiting the poor. As the saying goes the poor have no voice i.e. seamy labour. This is of course debatable.In groupsMy nuclear familyExtended family membersMy former university friendsMy husbands friends and their wivesOrphansSingle parentsPeople living with HIV and AIDSPeople with last illnessPeople I go to church withThe poor olden peopleColleaguesIT professionalsPeople in the medical fieldSocial volunteersbeggarsOut-group conclave membersPaedophilesPeople that commit violent crimesPeople that commit any crimeTraditional healersInvisiblePaedophilesGaysLesbiansTranssexualsBisexualsAtheistsGang membersHaving been born in a rural area with not much hope, where there was a lack of access to basic services, a lack of information and poverty I temperament feel content with my current situation and community. One only got to see and experience city life once or twice a year when coming to the city to buy Christmas clothes. It was the citing of such communities and life that gave one insight of how much more life had to offer outside ones environment and circumstances. This was one motivating factor that led one to break the cycle of poverty. The community, the neighbourhood and the way of life led me to interiorise self-determination and motivation.Having access to basic services, access to knowledge, access to primary health, program line and sanitation left wing one with not much to worry about except to focus on improving ones life, that of ones children and those who are still trapped in the cycle of poverty back at home. Having come from a poor background and being in this community has also given me an insight on what it means to be poor, hence I relate and sympathise with those less fortunate. I give back and assist where possible. Even though the way of life in my neighbourhood has empowered me it has also taken away my African way of life. It is not commu nity orientated but focuses more on individuality. That is why my family and I always look forward to a stumbler to the village and not feeling ashamed to borrow sugar or onion from a neighbour.Question 5I would define racial identity as a background that one identifies with. Because of globalisation and drive to new communities people build lives in different communities and choose the identity they can relate to. Steve Biko was addressing the liberation of the oppressed mind of a black man.His black consciousness movement was dealing with two forces. He first-class honours degree addressed the external oppression experienced by blacks through segregation laws. The second was self-alienation. In opposition to this he called for the blacks to identify with themselves hence reversing years of self-negativity.Post-colonial is the study of the effects of colonialism on culture and societies of the previously oppressed or colonised. It is concerned with how Europeans controlled thir d world cultures and how these groups responded and resisted their way to independence. It is about the relationship between the colonisers and the previously colonised. It is about the awareness of social, psychological and cultural inferiority implemented by being in a colonised state. It is the struggle for ethnic, cultural and political autonomy.Racial alienation can be defined as a loss of ones root culture in the process of adopting the culture of the oppressor. Cultural dispossession is the adoption of the oppressors lyric with the aim of being possessed by the oppressor. Speaking ones language is assuming a culture thereby giving up of ones language. Racism has created the idea of inferiority of the black people resulting in black escaping to whiteness or blackness.Question 61. The most significant learning or insight you had while doing this module.The topic on African perspective on psychology versus the European perspective was the most significant insight. The link bet ween the topic and colonisation left me thinking and with many unanswered questions.2. The most significant experiences you had while doing this moduleI enjoyed the walk about in my community, the high walls, the security and broadly speaking how different races relate to each other.3. What you most appreciate about this moduleI appreciated the interactive approach of the module. We are so engaged with our lives and work that one doesnt stop to look at personal relations, how we socialise with each other and the groups one does not relate to and the reasons why.4. What you to the lowest degree appreciate about this moduleThere nothing I least appreciated as everything I read I got a chance to disagree or agree as we are taught not to accept everything one is told. The fact that everything is debatable and that one is allowed to apply ones mind is good enough for me.