Decolonising Psychology: Reflections on Continuing Myopia

Abstract

This thematic issue examines how psychology has been influenced by colonisation processes and how these influences find reflection in people’s minds. Various contributors in this thematic issue address decolonising psychology with the larger objective of improving relations between people and also between people and environment. They specifically examine the process and consequences of decolonising psychology in and for ‘developing’ societies. The process of decolonising psychology is expected to enhance our understanding about the influence of colonisation on minds and human behaviour; it aims at repairing the ill-effects of the past and present unequal power relationships that resulted from colonisation. Such knowledge needs to be followed by actions to liberate and make minds free. There is a growing awareness of the influence of colonial history on epistemology, research, methods, assessment and practices of psychology. The effects of colonisation are very much present in societies even today and are not only reflected in global economic relations and climate change, but also in social relationships, in minds and attitudes, and in the transgenerational transfer of traumas. An important question that is raised is whether contemporary psychology confirms the status quo, or it