Back when there was an emergence of Black,Hispanic and Asian studies,there was an
insistence that the
best fit faculty personnel to conduct those courses and departments should be
representative of the targeted
populations.Hence a white professor teaching Black History or Black Psychology would
come
under scrutiny.
With the growing trend in establishing Cross-Cultural Psychology courses,I personally
feel
that this issue is
relevant.
Cross-Culltural Psychology is not using a Eurocentric paradigm and trying to find its'
equivalence in other
cultures.As a matter of fact,CC Psy is about 80% culture and about 20% basic
psychology.And
even within the comparative cultural aspects,distinction should be made between the
indigenous
aspects and parallel similarities interculturally.
The leading dudes and dudettes in CC Psy come from a variety of academic
disciplines.Most
are Eurpeans
and Asians and possess a Global personality outlook and apply research methodology
leaning
towards
non-parametric statistical analysis.
Hence a true Cross-cultural Psychologist should express a passion for the integrity of
other cultures .
This individual should place more emphasis on "validity" than on the "reliability"
aspects
of
concepts and should question the rules of standardization.
In my opinion, profs who originally ome from other cultures should be on the vanguard
of
this CC Psy
movement because they may be at an advantage in comparing and contrasting the cultural
variables.
They may also represent modes of adjustment: integration,assimilation,integration and
separation-
which could give insight into levels of factors that affect inter and intra cultural
movements.
Unfortunately,most profs that I have met from other countries seem more interested in
propagating
the Eurocentric Psychology paradigm,especially those born in Cuba and the Middle East.
Of course,I realize this may represent a mode of adjustment in the host country and
interestingly
enough,this could be asset in providing the necessary insights for CC Psy
understanding.
Stay tuned.
Michael Sylvester,PhD
Daytona Beach,Florida
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