Cultural Psychology - Lecture 5: Indigenous and Pacific Psychologies Flashcards
Where are indigenous psychologies produced and what type of knowledge does it produce?
- Develop psychologies that are not imposed or imported.
- Influenced by the cultural contexts in which people live.
- Developed within culture using a variety of methods.
- Produces locally relevant psychological knowledge
- > Not based within western paradime of psychology - looks at how ppl are influenced by cultural context in which they live
Indigenous Psychologies definition
The study of mind and behaviour that is developed within indigenous frames of reference.
Difference between cultural psychology and indigenous psychologies
Cultural is embedded in a western paradime of thinking, whereas indigenous psychologies are to do with indigenous frames of reference
Why is indigenous psychologies plural?
Because there are multiple indigenous populations around the world, therefore the possibility of multiple indigenous psychologies that can be developed
What knowledge do we carry which is passed on from our elders?
Our cultural values
What can approaches in Pacific psychology be used to understand?
Other cultural or indigenous psychologies
Pacific ppl are over-represented in a lot of negative mental health indices - what is important for psychologists to do in regards to this?
Understand why these disparities exist and try to think of ways as to how to approach mental health in ways it resonates with Pacific communities
Ethnic Inequalities - Rates of diagnosis are lower than rates of symptoms we see in the population - what causes this?
Differences in access to MH services/ways that MH professionals engage with communities to support them
This is largely due to how the health system is designed -> social/economic/structural barriers which may prevent people from accessing MH services
Quick Facts about Pacific Peoples in NZ (2013 Census)
- 7.4% of NZ population - 295,941
- 10.3% by 2038
- 62.3% Born in NZ
- 79.7% Religious
- Median age -22.1 years
Umbrella terms for diverse communities
Pacific / Pasifika / Polynesian / PI
Population Structure Graphs - Pacific -> what does it show and consequence
Very youthful population -> bulges/dents are usually ppl in mid 20s/30s that either leave the country or come in
- > Important to consider that when go out to work/OE - communities are a representation for now for what the country looks like
- > Power by numbers - misrepresentation of PI communities exist simply due to issue of demographic makeup
History - The early days
NZ relations with Pacific neighbours Niue & Cook Islands Samoa Pacific migration ‘60s – ’70s The “Pacific Islander”
History - The dawn raid
Economic decline
Crackdown on illegal overstayers from the Pacific
Labour then National
86% arrested for overstaying were Pacific
Majority of overstayers were from UK, Australia and South Africa
Discriminatory approach -> Damage of ethnic relations
History - The emerging Pacific
Subsequent generations born in NZ in an increasingly multicultural context
Identity influences
Historical context marked by acculturative processes, colonisation, and discriminatory practices
Links maintained with Pacific homelands
What do historical contexts contribute to?
Historical contexts contribute to ethnic disparities in health, justice, education and employment
Pacific and western cultures table: Collectivist/Individualist Self-concept Family Governance Religion/Spirituality Communication
Refer to table on slides
What are pacific psychologies?
Centred on Pacific understandings of self, mind, and
behaviour. -> broader understanding of who we are
Holistic
Religion and spirituality
Family (and importance of relationships within communities)
Acculturative processes (recognising majority of PI population born in NZ along with recognising PI subject to acculuration)
Broader Pacific approach and ethnic specific approaches
Common pacific cultural values
Respect - Understand how this can influence the way ppl interact with each other, therefore younger may not raise concerns due to perceived authority Reciprocity Family links & obligations Community Oriented Collective responsibility Love/charity Service Spirituality, most commonly associated with Christianity Older people revered - acknowledging elders held in high regard as they tend to instill a lot of knowledge about how to go about understanding yourself
What is present across all PI approaches to health and wellbeing?
Core elements - but may be in different contexts
Core elements of Pacific approaches to health and wellbeing
Physical, environmental, familial, cultural, mental, spiritual
Fonofale model - Roof
Roof: Culture • Values + beliefs that shelter • Family. • NZ and Pacific born • Dynamic
Fonofale model - Foundation
Foundation: Family
• Kopu Tangata / Aiga / Kaiga / Magafaoa
• Nuclear – Extended
• Bound by kinship, titles, marriage, parterships.
• History and geneaology in the foundation/family ties them to titles/lands/motu/ sea
-> Family = foundation on which everything else built - connected to each other
What is fale used to symbolise?
Different components of core elements of PI approaches to health and wellbeing
-> Understanding the differences between NZ and PI born
Pou 1 – Physical
- Biological or physical wellbeing.
- Anatomy, physiology, nutrition, medication
- Positive/negative impacts
Pou 2 - Spiritual
- Wellbeing that stems from a belief system
- Christianity, spirituality
- Ancestors, beliefs, histories or a combination -> indigenous beliefs/spirituality - communication with people passed on
Pou 3 - Mental
- Wellbeing and health of the mind
* Thinking, emotions, expressed behaviours
Pou 4 - ‘Other’
• Direct/indirect influences
• Gender, sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, education, employment
-> Like intersectional framework - all impact on a person’s life
Environment
- Relationships to the physical environment.
* Rural - Urban
Time
- Actual or specific time in history that impacts Pacific peoples.
- Contemporary issues.
- Future
Context
- Where/how/what and the meaning it has for a person or people.
- NZ or Pacific context.
- Country or residence, legal, politics, socioeconomic.
What is fonofale?
A general framework for understanding people, informed by Pacific values.
NOT a diagnostic tool
BUT can be useful in guiding clinical formulations - understand entire person in therapeutic context
What does strength of fale show?
Integrity of overall health and being are holisitic
What do cultural patterns allow?
Cultural patterns allow engagement with the funeral
and grief processes, plus a way to embrace the value
of relationships
How does fonofale help to understand cultural context/values?
Recovery, resilience and sense of purpose is grounded
in their family, their faith and strengthened by their cultural values
