PSYCH108 - MAORI 30 KEY POINTS

What is Māori psychology?

The study and understanding of Māori experiences, behaviour, wellbeing, relationships, and ways of understanding the world, grounded in Māori knowledge, values, and cultural contexts.

Why is culture important when studying psychology?

Culture influences how people understand themselves, relate to others, interpret experiences, and define wellbeing, so psychological theories developed in one cultural context may not fully explain another.

What is mātauranga Māori?

A broad body of Māori knowledge, understanding, values, practices, and ways of knowing developed and passed down through generations.

Why is mātauranga Māori important to Māori psychology?

It provides a Māori framework for understanding people, relationships, wellbeing, and the environment, rather than relying solely on Western psychological frameworks.

What is a holistic approach to wellbeing?

Understanding wellbeing as involving multiple interconnected dimensions, rather than treating physical, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects as completely separate.

What is Te Whare Tapa Whā?

A model of Māori health developed by Sir Mason Durie that conceptualises wellbeing as a whare (house) supported by four interconnected dimensions.

What are the four dimensions of Te Whare Tapa Whā?

Taha tinana (physical wellbeing), taha hinengaro (mental/emotional wellbeing), taha whānau (family/social wellbeing), and taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing).

What does taha tinana refer to?

Physical wellbeing, including the physical body, health, and ability to function.

What does taha hinengaro refer to?

Mental and emotional wellbeing, including thoughts, feelings, and psychological experiences.

What does taha whānau refer to?

Family and social wellbeing, including relationships, connections, and support from others.

What does taha wairua refer to?

Spiritual wellbeing, including beliefs, values, meaning, and a person's relationship with the spiritual dimension of life.

What does the foundation of Te Whare Tapa Whā represent?

Whenua, meaning land/environment. It represents the importance of a person's connection to the physical environment and place as a foundation for wellbeing

Why is Te Whare Tapa Whā described as an interconnected model?

The dimensions support one another, so weakness in one area can affect overall wellbeing, while strengthening one dimension can support others.

What is whānau?

Whānau refers to family and broader relational connections, extending beyond a narrow Western concept of the nuclear family.

Why is whānau important in Māori psychology?

Identity and wellbeing are strongly connected to relationships and collective support, meaning the individual is understood within their wider network of relationships.

What is whakapapa?

Genealogical connections and ancestral relationships that link individuals to their whānau, ancestors, whenua, and wider community.

Why is whakapapa psychologically significant?

It contributes to identity, belonging, continuity, and understanding one's place within a wider network of people and generations.

What is whenua?

Land or the physical environment, but it can also represent a deeper relationship between people, place, identity, and belonging.

Why is connection to whenua important?

Connection to whenua can contribute to identity, belonging, cultural continuity, and wellbeing, rather than land being viewed solely as a physical resource.

What is wairuatanga?

The recognition of the spiritual dimension of existence, including relationships with spiritual forces, beliefs, values, and meaning.

What is collectivism in a Māori cultural context?

An emphasis on relationships, collective identity, responsibilities, and group wellbeing, rather than viewing the individual as completely independent.

How can Māori and Western psychological perspectives differ in their view of the individual?

Some Western approaches emphasise the individual as an autonomous person, whereas Māori perspectives can place greater emphasis on the person's relationships, whakapapa, whānau, whenua, and collective context.

What is the danger of applying Western psychological theories universally?

They may overlook culturally specific understandings of behaviour and wellbeing and incorrectly treat one cultural perspective as universally applicable.

What is cultural competence in psychology?

The ability to work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds by developing cultural knowledge, awareness, respect, and appropriate practices.

Why should psychologists consider historical and social context when working with Māori?

Experiences such as colonisation, cultural disruption, discrimination, and unequal access to resources can influence wellbeing and cannot be separated from the broader social context.

What is colonisation relevant to Māori psychology?

Colonisation significantly affected Māori land, culture, language, social structures, and ways of life, creating historical and ongoing effects that are relevant to Māori wellbeing.

Why is Māori language important in Māori psychology?

Te reo Māori carries concepts, meanings, values, and ways of understanding that may not have direct equivalents in English, making language important for culturally grounded psychological understanding.

What is the importance of relationships in Māori approaches to wellbeing?

Relationships are not simply an optional source of support; they can be fundamental to identity, belonging, responsibility, and overall wellbeing.

Why is it important to avoid treating Māori as a culturally homogeneous group?

Māori individuals and communities have different experiences, identities, iwi affiliations, backgrounds, and circumstances, so cultural frameworks should not be applied as rigid stereotypes.

What is the key overall difference between an individualistic and holistic/relational approach to psychology?

An individualistic approach tends to focus on the person as an independent individual, while a holistic and relational approach understands the person through interconnected physical, mental, spiritual, familial, environmental, cultural, and historical relationships.