Challenging the monoculturalism of psychology: Towards a more socially accountable pedagogy and practice

Abstract

In this paper I employ the notion of a “socially accountable psychology” (Davidson, 1998 Davidson, G, 1998, 1998. In pursuit of social responsibility in psychology: A comment on Butler, Australian Psychologist 33 (1998, 1998), pp. 47–49.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) to explore the whiteness of psychological epistemologies. I suggest that within a multicultural society psychology needs to develop an understanding of the ways that white systems of representation shape pedagogy and practice. In order to do this, I first outline the ways in which the discipline may be conceptualised as a cultural practice that is both informed by, and constitutive of, racialised practices in Australia. I then outline a constructionist approach to understanding psychical processes that values multiple, contextual understandings of knowledge production. I conclude by suggesting that we as white psychologists need to pay particular attention to the “politics of therapy”, and the privileges that we hold.