'Just another white-ology': Psychology as a case study

Abstract

This paper explores the role of one of the helping professions, psychology, in the lives of Indigenous Australians in the past and present, and suggests ways forward for the future. In the past psychology has been implicated in the marginalisation, oppression and dispossession of Indigenous Australians, and this continues at the present time since psychology as currently practised is an agent of the dominant culture. In order to have a positive influence in Indigenous lives, psychology and psychological practice will need to change radically. The paper draws upon current work by the authors in developing curriculum guidelines for teaching cultural competence to psychology students and is informed by recent developments in developing ethical standards. Psychology, and other helping professions, can have a positive role, but more as allies and advocates rather than ‘experts ’ that solve clients ’ ‘problems’. “Psychology was seen as, at best, “just another white –ology ” and at worst a major agency for scrutinizing and labelling Indigenous people.” As one of the helping professions, psychology should have a useful role in improving the mental health and social and emotional well-being of Indigenous Australians. On every social and health indicator, Indigenous Australians are among the most disadvantaged people in the world, in contrast to the majority of non-Indigenous people, who enjoy unprecedented good health and prosperity. Yet psychology and the other western helping professions have not only been ineffective in redressing Indigenous disadvantage, they have been implicated in contributing to its creation and perpetuation.

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