History of Psychology

How psychology came to Africa?

Through Christian missionaries, visiting western psychologists and African students who studied abroad

How did African students contribute to the introduction of Western psychological theories?

They studied abroad and brought back Western theories and practices.

What is the definition of psychology according to the notes?

Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, behavior, and emotions.

What do scholars like Ngoge argue for in the context of African psychology?

They argue for a version of psychology systematically studies the complexities of human mental life, culture and experience in an African context

What significant political changes occurred in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s regarding psychology?

Many universities included the field of psychology following political independence.

Name two universities in Africa that included psychology in their curriculum after independence.

University of Nairobi (Kenya) and University of Ibadan (Nigeria).

What challenges did African universities face in developing indigenous psychology?

They struggled with Western curricula and recruiting local experts to firm an indigenous approach to psychology.

What has been the impact of Western hegemony on African psychology?

It resulted in long-standing gaps where local realities are interpreted through a Euro-American lens.

What are the implications of relying on foreign recruitment for psychology positions in Africa?

It led to the importation of Western models and a dependency on Euro-American theories.

How has the dominance of Western psychological theories affected African psychologists?

They have experienced disappointment in trying to develop indigenous psychology.

What historical context is intertwined with Western psychology in Africa?

It is linked to the history of colonization, oppression, and cultural imperialism.

Origin of the word psychology

It is a Greek word whose worldview doesn't reflect the diverse cultures in Africa

Epistemic considerations

Worldviews and truths are views are heavily influenced by geographical and cultural contexts challenging the universal applicability of western theories

What critique is made regarding the 'scientific' approach in psychology?

The scientific and objective approach in the study of human behaviour distorts by ignoring social and cultural factors

Authority and scope in defining psychology

Questions are rules about who gets to decide what is within the scope of psychology and the negative impact of limiting its study to a certain westernised group of criteria

What is the significance of Al Abbisa Mental Hospital in Africa?

It was the first mental hospital in Africa, marking an important milestone in mental healthcare.

How did print media contribute to the acceptance of psychological ideas in Africa?

Newspapers and magazines popularized psychological ideas and disciplines among the public.

What is a major critique of the universal applicability of Western psychological theories?

They may not align with the diverse cultures and local realities in Africa.

What was the role of Lebanese immigrants in the development of psychology in Egypt?

They established journals that popularized psychological ideas in Cairo.

19th century

Egypt expended its educational system introducing basic psychology in teachers training in school

1929

So the establishment of the higher Institute of education in Cairo that further solidified psychology as a respected scientific field in Egypt

1906

The word psychology first appeared in the curriculum by the minister of education marking its first academic introduction

1908

Psychology became a part of the department of philosophy curriculum at Cairo University

What does the term 'Westernized discipline' imply about psychology in Africa?

It suggests that African psychology has become subordinated and heavily influenced by Euro-American models.

What are the implications of the reliance on Western curricula in African universities?

It has led to a lack of representation of local realities in psychological education.

How does the historical and political context affect the development of psychology in Africa?

It shapes the challenges and opportunities for creating a psychology that reflects local experiences.

How was psychology manipulated in South Africa during apartheid?

It was co-opted to justify apartheid by claiming that Bantu people were culturally and developmentally incompatible with Europeans.

What was the belief regarding the mixing of races in South Africa during apartheid?

It was believed that mixing races would be detrimental and catastrophic.

What role did key government figures play in the political manipulation of psychology in South Africa?

They used psychological theories to develop and reinforce political policies.

What was the early foundation of higher education in South Africa?

Higher education began with a South African college, now known as the University of Cape Town (UCT), established in 1829.

Which universities played a crucial role in the academic influences on psychology in South Africa?

UNISA, Stellenbosch University, and the University of the Good Hope.

When was psychology taught in the philosophy department in South Africa until?

Until 1917.

What milestone occurred in 1917 regarding psychology in South Africa?

RW Wilcocks was appointed to establish the first experimental laboratory.

Who were some prominent white psychologists involved in the apartheid ideological framework?

RW Wilcocks, 117 Verwoerd, and JC Smuts.

Who was Chabani N. Manganyi?

He was the first black psychologist in South Africa and developed the psychology department at the University of Transkei.

What was Josephine Nardoo's significance in South African psychology?

She became the first black applicant at the South African Psychology Association.

What political activism did Sathisvan Cooper engage in?

He contributed to the Black Consciousness movement and participated in student activism.

What colonial origins did psychology have in Zambia?

Psychology emerged in Zambia during colonial times as part of anthropological research serving the British colonial interests.

What important step in anthropological research occurred in Zambia in 1987?

The establishment of The Rhodes Living Institute.

Who was appointed director of the Development Research Unit in Zambia in 1963?

Professor A. Heron.

What was established in Zambia in 1965?

The first experimental psychological laboratories.

What was one of the earliest departments of psychology in Africa formed in 1968?

The department of psychology at the University of Zambia.

What contextual challenges did psychology face in Africa?

Western psychological theories were found to be inappropriate in some African contexts.

How is the practice of psychology shaped according to the notes?

The way psychology is defined and practiced is shaped by geographic and cultural context.

What oppressive systems can psychology reinforce?

Psychology can reinforce oppressive systems such as apartheid, colonialism, and imperialism.

How does psychology sustain oppressive regimes?

Using psychology to justify racial systems sustains these oppressive regimes.

What is the scope of basic psychology?

The study of the mind (internal processes like cognition and emotion) and behavior (manifestations of these processes), including sub-disciplines like neuropsychology, cognitive psychology, and behaviorism.

What does abnormal psychology study?

Abnormal psychology studies patterns of atypical or maladaptive behaviors, including mental disorders and their causes or treatment.

What is demonology in the historical phases of psychology?

Demonology is the belief that behaviors were influenced by evil forces or demonic possession.

What does somatogenesis attribute to mental disturbances?

Somatogenesis attributes mental disturbances to bodily causes.

What is psychogenesis?

Psychogenesis attributes mental disorders to psychological and mental causes.

What does behaviorism focus on?

Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior rather than internal mental processes.

What are the phases of behaviorism?

The phases include: 1) Emphasis on observable behavior (Watson), 2) Expansion to include learning principles and conditioning, 3) Integration of cognitive elements leading to theories like Bandura's social cognitive theory.

What distinguishes radical behaviorists from methodological behaviorists?

Radical behaviorists focus solely on observable behaviors, while methodological behaviorists incorporate cognitive processes into their analysis.

What does biological psychology study?

Biological psychology studies the mind-body connection and how the nervous system influences behavior.

What sparked investigations into physiological and psychological processes in the 1980s?

The discovery of syphilis in the brain by Hideyo Maguchi.

What does cognitive psychology study?

Cognitive psychology studies mental processes such as learning, perception, language, memory, and reasoning.

What is the focus of cross-cultural psychology?

Cross-cultural psychology studies cognitive processes and behavior across diverse cultural settings.

What did Paul Ekman's findings reveal about facial expressions?

Facial expressions expressing emotions are the same universally, despite cultural differences.

What does developmental psychology study?

Developmental psychology studies physical, emotional, and social growth throughout the human lifespan.

What concept did John Locke propose about children?

John Locke proposed that children are in a tabula rasa (blank slate) state.

What did R. Rorreu and D. Tiedemann contribute to psychology?

They documented early childhood development.

What does evolutionary psychology explain?

Evolutionary psychology explains traits such as memory, perception, and language as adaptations to ever-changing environments.

What theory is experimental psychology based on?

Experimental psychology is based on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection.

What did William Wundt establish in Leipzig, Germany?

The first psychological laboratory.

What is neuropsychology?

It is the study of brain structures and functions and how they affect psychological processes and behaviour

What is the focus of Personal Psychology?

It studies behavior characteristics and how they shape individuals' thoughts and emotions.

What model is frequently used in Personal Psychology to describe individual differences?

The Big Five model.

What does Social Psychology study?

How humans think, influence, and interact with one another.

What are some topics included in Social Psychology research?

Beliefs, attributes, behavior, stereotypes, and more.

What is the purpose of Applied Psychology?

To utilize psychological methods to address real-life issues.

Who is considered a pioneer in Applied Psychology?

Hugo Munsterberg.

What are some specializations within Applied Psychology?

Health, clinical, forensic, and counseling psychology.

What significant development occurred in Zambia regarding psychology?

The establishment of the first psychology experimental laboratory in Africa.

Which countries saw the establishment of additional psychology departments in Africa?

Ghana and Nigeria.

What was a critical issue in early psychology approaches in Africa?

They focused on diagnosing Africans rather than understanding their perspectives.

What is solipsism in the context of psychology?

The belief that the Euro-American worldview is the only significant perspective.

What does the methodological aspect of solipsism assume?

That positivism and neo-positivism are the only valid methods for conducting scientific inquiry.

What is the experimental aspect of solipsism?

The notion that the experiences of a white middle class are the most valid.

How have Eurocentric frameworks affected psychology in Africa?

They have often disregarded cultural perspectives and indigenous knowledge.

What has adherence to Western methods in psychology led to in Africa?

Persistent biases in understanding human behavior in an African context.

What does the term 'Control Prediction bias' emphasize in psychology?

Controlled variables and event prediction for scientific inquiry.

What is a consequence of control and prediction in a colonial context?

It can lead to control and oppression of others.

What is the assumption underlying the inquiry in psychology?

Stability.