Although experiments and research following the Eurocentric model have unquestionnable internal validity,the issue of their external validity is another story. It is not surprising that there is a failure of the application of those Eurocentric models to the varying world of cultural realiy.David McClellans took his concept Nach to India and it was a flop. Freud's idea of rhe role of the father may not apply to Africa where the uncle is the disciplinarian.Individualized self-improvement and its concomitant strategies may not apply to collectivist cultures.Piaget's Swiss chalet environment lacks the dynamics of the African village where the constant manipulations of objects shows no deficit with conservation principles.As to so called stage theories,the Afrocentric stages may be different from the Eurocentric processes. As to the criteria for normality psychological testing may not be relevant to collectivist cultures. There is evidence to suggest that around the Ayer's rock region of AustraliaEu,aboriginal children surpass the Australian white kids in geometric skills. Because Afriucan cultures and their descendants are rhythm driven,brain laterality may play a significant role than with the Eurocentric mindset.
This concludes the black history month series "What they never told you in Psychology class" Michael Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
