Indigenous Psychology & Cultural Psychology PDF

INDIGENOUS PSYCHOLOGY, ETHNOPSYCHOLOGY, CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY: DISTINCTION IMPLICATIONS FOR SIKOLOHIYANG PIUPINO MADELENE STA. MARIN~ An examination was undertaken of various approaches that seek t...

INDIGENOUS PSYCHOLOGY, ETHNOPSYCHOLOGY, CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY: DISTINCTION IMPLICATIONS FOR SIKOLOHIYANG PIUPINO MADELENE STA. MARIN~ An examination was undertaken of various approaches that seek to integrate the cultural in the understanding of psychological events. The examination focused on the basic research designs utilized by these approaches, as well as their assumptions regarding psychological functioning. This was undertaken to assess the disciplinal status of Sikolohiyang Pilipino which is said to involve the stUdy of psychological experiences using the Filipino culture and language(s) as bases. It was found that Sikolohiyang Pilipino best corresponds with the approaches of Indigenous Psychology and Ethnopsychology, and shares with these approaches specific weaknesses. Like investigations in Ethnopsycho/ogy and Indigenous Psychology, Sikolohiyang Pilipino studies may fail to include context in the investigation and analysis of psychological experiences. The suggestion is made that Indigenous Psychology, Ethnopsychology and Cultural Psychology, like Cross- Cultural Psychology, be considered as differing methodologies that may be adopted by researchers in Sikolohiyang Pilipino. IT IS OFTEN MENTIONED that one of the primary weaknesses of psychological research is the limited attention given by the investigator to the context and/or the culture within which responses of the individual are being observed (see, e.g. Sampson, 1989; Gergen, Gulerce, Lock, and Misra, 1996). This is pointed out as a fundamental weak- ness since the responses of the person are likely to change as situations or conditions for responding change, and responses of individuals across groups may likewise vary based on the differences in their beliefs, perspectives and perceptions of the world. Based on this, one can no longer rely on knowledge derived from artificial conditions that have been arranged by the researcher so that responses may be observed. To arrive at a higher level of certainty about the validity of research findings, it is now important to take into account the influence of culture in observations and * Madelene Sta. Maria is Associate Professor at the Psychology Department of De La Salle University- Manila. She also holds the Lorenzo Taiiada III Distinguished Chair in Nationalism Studies. Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, Vol I, No. I (February 2000), pp. 11-22. Copyright 2000 by College ofLiberal Arts, De La Salle University