Capturing the Theoretical Contributions of Indigenous Psychology

Rogelia Pe
Pe--Pua (UNSW)

Musings (Reflections) of Someone In Search of Theory

Rogelia Pe
Pe--Pua (UNSW)

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 School of Social Sciences & International Studies

My Indigenous Psychology “Journey”

• Filipino-
Filipino
p -Chinese background
g
• Rogelia Pe 白秀玲
• Married to Eduardo Pua 潘華民
• BS, MA & PhD at the University of the Philippines
• Mentored by Virgilio Enriquez since 1974
• Taught at UP (1977-
(1977-1992) incl Filipino Psychology
• Edit d th
Edited the fi
firstt b
book
k on Filipino
Fili i P Psychology
h l
• East--West Center (UH) and article on Pagtatanong
East Pagtatanong--tanong
• Published on indigenous research methods
• Migrated to Australia in 1992; concentrated on cross-
cross-cultural
psychological research

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Decolonizing Philippine Psychology

• Virgilio Enriquez
Enriquez,, pioneer of Philippine IP
• From Colonial to Liberation Psychology (1992)
• Pagbabangong
Pagbabangong--Dangal:
Dangal: Indigenous Psychology and Cultural
Empowerment (1994)
• Sikolohiyang Pilipino – anchored on Filipino thought
and experience as understood from a Filipino
perspective
• Decolonization as a framework
• Development of indigenous concepts and theories
• Indigenization of psychological testing
• Development of indigenous research methods

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The IP Movement
• 1971 – Philippine
Phili i P Psychology
h l R
ResearchhHHouse
• 1975 – First National Conference on Filipino
Psychology
• 1975 – establishment of the National Association of
Filipino Psychology
• 1978 – teaching g of Sikolohiyang
y g Pilipino
p as a course
at UP
• 1994 – Enriquez passed away
• New generation of leaders emerged

Uni--national Dominance in Psychology (Indigenization from Without)

Uni

Dominant source culture

Auxiliary source Psychology of source
cultures cultures

Data from target cultures

Pseudo--etics
Pseudo etics/imposed
/imposed etics
Etic dimensions + emic definitions

Cross--cultural (Western) Psychology

Cross

Country 1 Country 2 Country 3

Cultures--as
Cultures as--recipients

Third World countries as recipients of

scientific cross-
cross-cultural knowledge

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Indigenization according to Source and Direction of Culture Flow
INDIGENOUS

Identification of key indigenous

concepts, methods and theories Culture assimilation;
indigenous version of
imported system

Semantic elaboration
Indigenization as strategy

Indigenous codification or re-

codification

Theoretic indigenization
Systematization/Explication of
implied theoretical frameworks

C t t indigenization;
Content i di i ti ttestt
modification and translation
Application/Use of imported materials

EXOGENOUS
Indigenization from Within Indigenization from Without
Basis: The Indigenous Basis: The exogenous
Direction: Outward (Culture-
(Culture-as
as--source) Direction: Inward
Inward (Culture
(Culture--as
as--target)

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Theory of Self and Others

Kapwa
p - Shared identity,
y, unityy of “self” and
“others”, an inner self shared with others,
fellow human being
Ako (ego, I) is associated with selfishness or
egocentricism
Iba sa akin (Others)
Inclusion/exclusion; insider-
insider-outsider
– “salingpusa”
salingpusa” (informal member)
– “We”: kita (dual we); tayo (inclusive we); Kami
(exclusive we)

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Kapwa as Social Interaction

Pakikipagkapwa (Collectivistic) Pag--iisa (Individualistic)
Pag
9 Ibang-
Ibang-tao (outsider) 9 Ibang-
Ibang-tao (outsider)
• Pakikitungo (transaction/civility) • Pagsasarili (individuation)
• Pakikisalamuha (inter
(inter--action w/) • Pag
Pag--iwas (avoidance)
• Pakikilahok (joining/participating) • Paghiwalay (separation)
• Pakikibagay (in
(in--conformity w w/)
/) • Pagmamalaki (autonomy)
• Pakikisama (adjusting) • Pakikinabang (self
(self--gain)
9 Hindi Ibang
Ibang--tao (one
(one--of
of--us) 9 Hindi Ibang
Ibang--tao (one
(one--of
of--us)
• Pakikipagpalagayang
Pakikipagpalagayang--loob • Pagkukubli (masking)
(rapport, mutual trust) • Pagwawalang
Pagwawalang--bahala (lack of
• Pakikisangkot (getting involved) concern)
• Pakikiisa (being one w/) • Pagsalungat (disagreement)

Behavior Patterns and Value Structure:

Surface, Core and Societal
• Hiya (propriety/dignity)
Colonial/Accommodative  • Utang
Utang‐‐na
na‐‐loob (gratitude/solidarity)
Surface Value • Pakikisama (companionship/esteem)
• Bahala na (determination)
C f
Confrontative
i Surface Value
S f V l • Sama
Sama//lakas ng loob (resentment/guts)
• Pakikibaka (resistance)

Pivotal Interpersonal Value • Pakikiramdam (shared inner perception)

CORE VALUE • KAPWA (shared identity)

Linking Socio‐personal 
Linking Socio‐
Value • Kagandahang
Kagandahang‐‐loob (shared humanity)

• Karangalan (dignity)
Associated Societal Values • Katarungan (justice)
• Kalayaan (freedom)
• “social acceptance”
Reductionist/Functional  • “social equity”
interpretation • “social mobility”

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Indirectness and Pakikiramdam

• Socialized to be sensitive
• Pakikiramdam - interpersonal value
• A request to feel or be sensitive to
• Indirect, non
non--verbal communication

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Musings: Searching for Theory

• The changing interpretation of IP

• Theories as behind application
• Is theorizing important?
• Obstacles to theorising (and pubblishing)
pubblishing)
• Pantayo (we
(we--inclusive) vs pangkami (we
(we--
exclusive) perspective
• Indigenous theories?

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 Towards global psychology thru 
cross‐‐indigenization
cross

CULTURE 1 CULTURE 2
as source as source

CROSS--CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
CROSS

CULTURE 3 CULTURE n
as source as source

Note: The direction of arrows indicates “indigenization from within”

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Contributing to universal psychology

• Away from “intellectual prejudice”, “entrenched

intellectual habits” & “cultural myopia”
• Providing a balance in flow of knowledge
between East & West
• Bridging the gap between “emotional
emotional
overreactions” & “blind assumption that
scientific psychology is a monopoly of the
West”.