The Evolution of African-centered Psychologists

Download or read book The Evolution of African-centered Psychologists written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: African-centered psychologists adhere to an African (Black) psychology reflective of an African worldview. The existence of African psychology is associated with an evolution in both conceptual development of an African psychology (Akbar, 1991; Jackson, 1979; Nobles, 1986x) and an emerging African consciousness (Akbar, 1991; Jackson, 1979; Karenga, 1993: Nobles, 1986). Utilizing qualitative study and phenomenological inquiry (in the broadest sense), this study explored the relevance of culture, society, training and professional experience in the developmental process of becoming African-centered and to the phenomenon of African psychology. It includes the history of African (black) psychology, appropriate definitions of relevant terminology, and discussion of three models of identity development.The study is centered on the experiences of twelve African-centered psychologists, their interpretations of phenomenon associated with the development of an African-centered perspective, and its connection with the quest to develop a psychology, which addresses needs that fall beyond the parameters of traditional psychology. Using a semi-structured interview protocol, the participants were queried about the experiences that influenced the development of their African consciousness and the conceptual development of African psychology, their experience with racism and the impact of racism on their conceptual development, their perceptions of the barriers that interfere with implementation of African based psychology, and the experiences that reinforced their African consciousness.Participants offered consistent definitions of African-centered thought; however, differences existed in operationalization of the concept. The study found that the intergenerational transmission and felt experience of African culture, African history, black organizations, and mentors significantly influenced the participant's African consciousness and the conceptual development of an African psychology. It also found that internalization and focus on racism impeded African consciousness and limited conceptualization to Western-based analysis. Reconnection with African culture and spirituality were experiences familiar to all of the study's participants.In summary, the study is about African-centered psychologists and their quest to provide an operational concept consistent with the history and culture of African Americans that would bring to the practice of psychology a more practical approach to help remedy psychologically based problems among African Americans.