2025 Psychology & Oppression Historical Perspectives.pptx copy

Psychology & Oppression: Historical Perspectives

Overview of Hegemony and Psychology

• Hegemony refers to how dominant groups maintain control not just through force but by achieving consent, shaping ideologies, values, and norms, making dominance appear natural.

• Mainstream psychology frequently claims to be impartial and grounded in scientific reasoning, yet its history reveals a service to dominant groups and powers.

Historical Context and Impact of Psychology

• Psychological discourse has historically been utilized to reinforce notions of the inferior ‘other’ and has been complicit in legitimizing oppression.

• Major contributions included perpetuating ideologies supporting white supremacy and heteronormativity, particularly during colonialism and apartheid.

Individualisation and Pathology

• Psychology has framed emotional distress as personal dysfunction rather than a social issue leading to a lack of accountability for systemic structures.

• This individualistic approach serves the interests of the powerful, as it downplays the need for contextual changes.

• For example, the historical case of drapetomania, an alleged mental condition that caused enslaved individuals to flee, reflects how pathology has been constructed to support oppressive systems.

Colonialism and Psychology

• Psychological practices benefitted colonial goals by classifying and categorizing people, thus facilitating control.

• African beliefs and practices were pathologized, supporting the narrative of a superior European norm versus an inferior African identity.

• This reductionist approach simplified complex social structures, aiding colonial governance and justifying colonial rule.

Intelligence Testing and Race

• Intelligence testing was used to develop harmful stereotypes regarding race and capabilities.

• The misapplication of psychological testing led to institutionalized policies that marginalized non-white populations.

• Particularly in apartheid South Africa, the education of black children was viewed as an unworthy investment, reflecting broader systemic inequities.

Gender and Psychology

• Psychological constructs often reinforced patriarchal ideologies, deeming behaviors typical of women as pathological.

• This historical lens legitimized the subjugation of women and further propagated gender inequalities in colonized contexts, often overlooking traditional gender roles.

• Indigenous systems were frequently misinterpreted, exacerbating oppression and constraining women’s rights and opportunities.

Sexuality in Psychological Discourses

• Psychological research has historically pathologized non-normative sexual behaviors through a Eurocentric lens, assisting in the stigmatization of diverse sexual identities.

• Colonial psychology often framed indigenous sexual practices as primitive, reinforcing justifications for colonial rule.

Apartheid and Complicity of Psychology

• Psychology played a significant role in supporting the apartheid regime, with figures like Verwoerd using psychological theories to substantiate segregationist ideologies.

• Mainstream psychology often ignored the effects of apartheid on mental well-being and contributed to reinforcing systemic racism and oppression.

Contemporary Influence of Historical Psychological Practices

• The legacy of colonialism persists in contemporary psychology, often ignored by practitioners.

• Concepts like epistemic violence illustrate how knowledge production can invalidate marginalized perspectives while perpetuating hierarchies.

• Coloniality encompasses ongoing systems of oppression that continue to influence societal structures and psychological practices.

Education and Power Dynamics in Psychology

• Universities have perpetuated colonial education models, prioritizing empirical science over alternative knowledge systems and marginalizing radical or decolonial approaches.

• Access to academic resources and publishing remains a challenge, with many deterrents such as high costs, language barriers, and institutional silencing of oppressive histories.

Conclusion

• The historical perspectives of psychology reveal complex relationships with power, oppression, and ideology. This reflection on past practices remains crucial for addressing contemporary issues in the discipline and for developing more equitable frameworks in psychological research and practice.