Psychology 12:  Introduction to African American Psychology

SR Paper for January 26, 2006

By

Halford H. Fairchild

 

Fairchild, H.H.  African American Psychology.  Pp. 92-99 in A.E. Kazdin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of psychology.  Washington, DC:  American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press.

 

Stimulus:  This article provides a definition of African American Psychology.  It traces the scope of inquiry of the field.  Definition:

 

“African American psychology is the body of knowledge that is concerned with the understanding of African American life and culture.  African American psychology recognizes the commonality of experiences of African people throughout the world, and therefore may be applied with greater or less precision to African people in Africa, Europe, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and North America.  African American psychology focuses on the mental, physical, psychological, and spiritual nature of humanity.  It is the collection of works that has been produced by African psychologists in the United States (African Americans) and throughout the world.” (p. 93

 

The distinguishing features of African American psychology are tied to a variety of “idealistic dialectics,” or “ideals in opposition.”  These are individualism/collectivism; materialism/spiritualism; control of nature/harmony with nature; and objective and subjective.

 

African American psychology has two missions:  debunking racist White psychology, and proactively examining the psychology of the African and African American experience (from an African and African American point of view).  “If the lion wrote history, the hunter would not be a hero.”  African American psychology is psychology from the point of view of the lion.

 

In Deconstruction (debunking) approaches, attention has been on genetic theories of inferiority, IQ, educational underachievement, family dynamics, and personality dynamics.

 

Proactive approaches have focused on Racial Identity Research, models of health and mental health, assessment, and a variety of applications (e.g., clinical models, HIV, and philosophical models such as the Nguzo Saba).

 

 

Response(s):  The sociohistorical context of White psychology, which has its origins in the late 19th century, is an important contribution.  Then, we witnessed a racial war of conquest of the world’s people.  Early psychology justified these crimes against humanity.

 

The idea that exploitation was beneficent is still current among many.  (Slavery saved the Africans from their savage cannibalism.)

 

The idea of the inextricable link of nature and nurture may be seen in Hal’s thought experiment on cloning.  Imagine cloning 12 copies of Hal Fairchild.  Raise one in a closet.  Raise another in London.  Raise another in the jungles of Borneo.  You end up with vastly different developmental and behavioral and intellectual outcomes.  Genes and environment always work in consonance.

 

Racial comparisons are invalid due to systematic differences in environmental surrounds.  A maxim of social science is the idea of “controlled observation.”  The way to compare Blacks and Whites, with legitimacy, is to first enslave Whites for 300 years, and then discriminate against them for another 100 years.  Now, the comparisons are fair.

 

African psychology is a psychology of the Spirit of human kind.

 

African psychology is a liberation psychology; of all people.

 

Fairchild, H.H.  (1995).  Placing Blacks at the center of psychology.  Los Angeles Times, City Times, p. 12.

 

Stimulus:  This article defines the scope and challenges of Black psychology.  It offers defining and distinguishing characteristics of Black psychology. 

 

Response(s):  Just as Blacks are wary of a discipline that has castigated and assaulted them (psychology), so too they are wary of schools, criminal courts, and voting booths (etc.).

 

It is crucial to increase the number of Black helping professionals.  We are over-represented in those needing services, and many (most) White service providers do more harm than good.  In the mental health field, this is especially true of psychiatry.

 

Black psychology needs 100 years to mature; but it is on the verge of a premature death.

 

If Black psychology seeks liberation, then bondage is implied.  Note the fallacy of the ideology of “freedom” in America.

 

ABPsi conventions heal the attenders.

 

Living in the community – have I forsaken my roots by moving to the mountain top?

 

Fairchild, H.H.  (1988).  Curriculum design for Black (African American) psychology.  Pp. 134-141 in P. Bronstein & K. Quina (Eds.), Teaching a psychology of people:  Resources for gender and sociocultural awareness.  Washington, DC:  The American Psychological Association.

 

Stimulus:  This chapter defines African American psychology (see the text), and offers curricular resources for its teaching.

 

Response(s):  It is amazing that such a vast array of resources exists.  African American psychology is so broad, today, that it may constitute a major in psychology.  There is no excuse for not including material relevant to African American psychology in all specialty courses in psychology:  developmental, social, clinical, experimental, personality, etc.

 

African American psychology emphasizes historical processes; and strategies to bring about social change.