Psychology of Blacks: Centering Our Perspectives in the African Consciousness

by Parham, Thomas A.; Ajamu, Adisa; White, Joseph L.

• ISBN13: 9780130959461
• ISBN10: 0130959464
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-01-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This book highlights the limitations of traditional psychological theories and approaches when applied to African descent people. It provides information on how the African Centered Perspective is defined, as well as how it operates in the context of the African American family with regard to identity development, education, mental health, research, and managing contemporary issues. It links the context of African American life to the traditions, values and spiritual essence of their African ancestors in an attempt to acknowledge the African worldview and assist the African American community in addressing some of the challenges they will face in the 21st century. Includes a thorough annotated bibliography for further reading.African Centered Psychology in the Modern Era, The African American Family, The Struggle for Identity Congruence, Psychological Issues in Education, Contemporary Approaches to Developmental Psychology, Mental Health Issues, Praxis in African American Psychology: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations, African Centered Psychology and Issues in the 21st Century.Psychologists or counselors working with the African American population.

Table of Contents

Dedication My Healing Space	vii	(6)
Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.
Forward	xiii	(4)
Anderson J. (A.J.) Franklin, Ph.D.
Preface	xvii	(4)
Acknowledgments	xxi
1 African-Centered Psychology in the Modern Era	1	(23)
Definitions	2	(3)
Historical Themes in Psychological Research	5	(7)
The African Worldview	12	(2)
Persistence of the African-Centered Worldview	14	(2)
The Development of Black Psychology--The Modern Era	16	(6)
Summary	22	(2)
2 The African-American Family	24	(16)
Historical Views	24	(1)
Conceptual Pitfalls	25	(5)
The Extended Family Model	30	(1)
Alternate Conceptualizations	31	(3)
Family Value Systems--An African-Centered Perspective	34	(4)
Summary	38	(2)
3 The Struggle for Identity Congruence in African-Americans	40	(14)
Identity as an African-American	41	(1)
Critical Questions of Identity	42	(2)
Coping with Oppression (Need for Liberation)	44	(1)
Our Condition	44	(3)
The Psychology of Nigrescence	47	(2)
Contemporary Views	49	(3)
Summary	52	(2)
4 Psychological Issues in the Education of African-American People	54	(26)
Academic Profile	55	(3)
Correlates of Achievement	58	(9)
Parent Education Attainment	67	(2)
Educational Challenges for the New Millennium	69	(5)
Promising Practices	74	(6)
5 Contemporary Approaches to Developmental Psychology--African-American Perspectives	80	(13)
Historical Overview	81	(1)
Traditional Theoretical Approaches: A Summary	82	(2)
Limitations and Conceptual Pitfalls	84	(2)
African-American Perspectives: The Importance of Culture in Understanding African-American Psychological Development	86	(5)
Sankofa: Some Preliminary Thoughts for the Next Generation	91	(1)
Summary	92	(1)
6 Mental Health Issues Impacting African Americans	93	(25)
Mental Health or Mental Illness: A Question of Perspective	94	(4)
Therapeutic Prognosis: Contradictory Findings	98	(4)
Historical Trends	102	(2)
Help-Seeking Behaviors in African-Americans	104	(2)
Recommendations for Service Delivery	106	(5)
The Influence of Identity States on the Therapeutic Relationship	111	(2)
Training Service Providers	113	(2)
African-American Psychology: Proposed Practice Competencies (Parham, 1999)	115	(3)
7. Praxis in African American Psychology: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations	118	(13)
The Value of Praxis in African-American Psychology	118	(1)
Black Psychology as a Discipline: Paradigmatic Concerns, Theoretical and Methodological Challenges	119	(5)
Seizing the Power to Define: Practical Applications and Considerations in Research with African-Americans	124	(5)
One-Ire: Fulfilling Our Destiny--A Note to the Next Generation	129	(2)
8. African-Centered Psychology in the 21st Century: Issues Confronting the African-American Community	131	(29)
Coping with Racism and Oppression	132	(6)
Confronting the Social Pathology of the American Workplace	138	(10)
"We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting for": Contextualizing Black Women's Psychosocial Experiences and Resistance to Oppression	148	(12)
Helen A. Neville, Ph.D
9. African-American Psychology: Thirty Years in the Evolution of an Idea-Conclusion	160	(10)
Afterword: Remembering Sadie: A Son To His Mother	170	(3)
Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.
References	173	(14)
Index	187