Well let us hope that we will all be 'exempt from survIval pressures'. I find nothing glamorous about "survival", and hope that we do have the free time to develop symphony orchestras, the arts, etc. When that goes, then I think we are in definate trouble.
>"One can think of classical music as a good model for the prevalence of the current Eurocentric and U.S centric models-boredom >and exemption from survuval pressures can lead to wonderful creations reinforcing itself." In my opinion, there is just no comparison between 'tribal' "music" and symphony orchestras. Like it or not, Europeans and their descendents have given us the arts and music of such a quality that couldn't even be dreamed of in simpler "survival" based cultures which were found in Africa, Australia, etc. >"Psychology is the study of behavior of the universal and the diversity of all human behavior" Probably in an ideal world. But we all know it's the study of undergraduates in psychology programs. Perhaps generalizeable, perhaps not so much. But anyway. Americans are humans too and so are Europeans (I think). I don't see that it's incumbent upon European and American (maybe even Canadian) psychologists to be constantly worried about and addressing cross-cultural issues in all that they do. I think it is perfectly fine to study the people of Western-European culture (which has given the world so much)--it is a viable, admirable, desirable, and important thing to do and I wouldn't be apologizing for a Euro-Western emphasis at all. Surely the psychology departments in Africa, Latin America, China, Japan, Korea etc., are studying the psychology of their own people and culture. And indeed, they are arguably the best people to be doing that. Then the psychologists of these different countries and cultures who are interested in cross-cultural issues as their main concern can all get together and compare. I am Western-European so perhaps that's why I value their advanced cultural contributions to the world and think that they are unparalelled in any other culture. I am unapologetically proud to be Western-European with such magnificent contributions to the world of culture, arts, music, health, science, technology, etc--they cannot be matched by any other culture. Perhaps this attitude is not politically correct. I mean Europeans, Americans, Canadians, and Western culture in general are supposed to abandon their world view in favor of being inclusive of everyone and every culture while other cultures such as African, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Latin, etc., are allowed to remain proud of their own culture and its acheivements. This is a mistake that I don't make. I'm personally not all that interested in cross-cultural or international issues in psychology and I am content in the Euro-Western culture which includes amazing diversity and richness--certainly enough to justify its study in psychology. --Mike On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 12:32 PM, michael sylvester <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Michael Smith <[email protected]> > *To:* Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)<[email protected]> > *Sent:* Monday, August 03, 2009 11:32 PM > *Subject:* Re: [tips] Psychology irrelevant to African-Americans > > Well, what do you want? Psychology was invented by Europeans. > > --Mike > > And it is for this reason I use the term Eurocentric cognitive > imperialism,Psychology is the study of behavior of the universal and the > diversity of all human behavior,but the so called "scientific" approach was > the work of some Europeans > who were the quintessential domesticated cultures.So being removed from the > constant struggle of human survival there were a number of factors that > contributed to the the current psychological paradigm-domestication led to a > pre-occupation with intellectual pursuits and obviously it was thought that > human behavior can be described and understood within a physical science > model.Actually most of modern day U.S psychology takes it roots in the > functionalist tradition of William James,Dewey,Angell,Carr and a philosopher > named William Pierce. > But what should be noted is that psychology with its current models would > probably not exist if it was not for the > creation of the United States of America.Functionalism was a kind of a > movement that validated the Americanization process and hence its strong > environmental emphasis.Behaviorism launch the final blow by its emphasis > and ignoring the context and import of the stimulus complex. > Psychology as developped in the U.S is confined to its geographic > boundaries.The Americanization process does not necessary imply adherence to > a specific Eurocentric knowledge base.It is interesting to note that the > conquest > of the Amricas only led to the imposition of Catholicism,whereas other > cultural aspects remained intact in some parts of the Americas.There was not > a Latin Americanization process,One can think of classical music as a good > model for the prevalence of the current Eurocentric and U.S centric > models-boredom and exemption from survuval pressures can lead to wonderful > creations reinforcing itself. > > Michael Sylvester,PhD > Daytona Beach,Florida > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
