The Role of Indigenous Psychologies in the Building of Basic Cultural Psychology

What is it about?

This chapter traces some of the common historical roots and features of indigenous psychology and cultural psychology. Furthermore, it considers the extent to which the mainstream historiography of psychology's encounter with culture conveys a misleading impression and why correcting this impression is of general importance for a science that deals with human development and functioning in varying socio-historical and cultural environments. Examples from Indian psychology are used to illustrate the potential of indigenous psychology to add to our scientific knowledge. Finally, conclusions are drawn about how and whether indigenous psychological knowledge and methodologies can help the cause of cultural psychology, what can be learned about the research skills that different research environments demand, and what kinds of inequalities hinder a more fruitful exchange of knowledge within the psychological community.

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Photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash

Photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash