Indigenous Psychology

Question 1

WEIRD

Answer 1

Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, democratic

Question 2

Defining culture

Answer 2

• not biological / not what you are born with
• is learned and experienced
• not the same as race / ethnicity
• involves shared rules/ understandings that shape behaviour, norms, co-existence
• many levels: values, attitudes, beliefs, worldview, artefacts, social structures, norms, interpersonal relationships, etc

Question 3

Why is culture not considered?

Answer 3

• taken-for-granted: people may not recognise how they have been shaped by culture
• given little credit: how how much it can influence cognitions, behaviours, interactions and even wellbeing
• ignored: Western psychology theories heavily focus on the individual’s perspectives and experiences
• Cross-cultural psychology aims to removes culture blindness

Question 4

Key cultural distinctions

Answer 4

• individualism (Western countries) v collectivism (non-Western countries)
• meaning, passage, and perspective of time (Rome thinks of the past as infront of them, but Australia thinks of the past as behind them)
• acceptable dimensions of interpersonal space / intimacy
• patterns of deference towards authority / elders
• the social “clock” (life milestones, life/role expectations, success)
• manifestation of psychopathology

Question 5

Indigenous psychology

Answer 5

• different indigenous people across the world have unique and rich cultures, however, their perspectives have largely ignored in psychological research

Question 6

What is indigenous psychology?

Answer 6

• a science using appropriate methodologies
• a profession with targeted therapies
• a reclamation of self-determination rights
• new global theoretical and therapeutic approach to indigenous wellbeing

Question 7

prominent international indigenous psychology researchers

Answer 7

• prof. Linda Tuhiwai Smith (Aotearoa)
• prof. Linda Waimarie Nikora (Aotearoa)
• prof Suzanne Stewart (Canada)

Question 8

indigenous psychology: Australia

Answer 8

• indigenous aus cultures are the oldest living cultures in the world, going back 65000 years
• at the time of invasion, there were 600 different nations or clan groups, and 250 known indigenous languages

Question 9

Professor Patricia Dudgeon

Answer 9

• First indigenous aus clinical psychologist
• Darwin
• school of indigenous studies (UWA)
• international trailblazer for indigenous health and indigenous psychology
• identifying best practice for suicide prevention
• lead author on chapter documenting success of aboriginal organisations and community led response to covid 19

Question 10

Dr Tracey Westerman

Answer 10

• NW WA
• clinical psychologist
• Australian of the Year WA
• runs workshops for mental health assessment and suicide prevention
• offers a scholarship
• mental health assessment tools (culturally appropriate)
• -> westerman aboriginal checklist youth + adults

Question 11

indigenous psychology research key factors

Answer 11

• decolonising methodologies
• research shift: “on” –> “With” –> “by”
• methodological differences
• -> person centred vs group focussed
• -> anonymity vs relationship with participants
• -> culturally appropriate ethics
• -> community engagement and empowerment

Question 12

barriers to psychology: education

Answer 12

• negative perceptions of tertiary education and psychology
• lack of representation of indigenous perspectives
• lack of indigenous staff
• culturally insensitive staff
• indigenous students have more responsibility than non-indigenous students

Question 13

barriers to psychology: health services

Answer 13

• understanding complexity of colonisation’s impact on current grief and trauma
• access to services
• culturally appropriate care and treatment
• lack of indigenous psychologists