Psychology - History of SA

Question 1

Define psychology.

Answer 1

The scientific study the mind, mental processes and human behaviour.

Question 2

Why is it important to discuss the history of psychology in South Africa?

Answer 2

Allows us to engage with how the past comes to shape and influence the present.

Question 3

What is knowledge production?

Answer 3

The process by which new information, theories, and insights about human behavior, cognition, emotions, and mental processes are generated.

Question 4

What does Naidoo argue the issue is regarding the knowledge produced by psychology?

Answer 4

• Steeped in Western/Eurocentric values.
• Promotes positivistic-empirial mode of scientific investigation.

Question 5

Define Eurocentric values.

Answer 5

Knowledge that reflects the interests and ideas of white, heterosexual, middle class and educated American and European societies.

Question 6

Define positivistic-empirial science.

Answer 6

Knowledge is only considered scientific, valid, true and factual when it is produced under conditions that are observable, objective, highly controlled and quantified.

Question 7

What does this mean for South Africans now that we adopted this type of psychology?