Page 52 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology as a Challenge

Philosophical underpinnings and Worldview The collective self reflects identification with a
Community is a political term that is and has valued cultural group. In this sense existence is
been popular in South Africa. It entails far more defined in terms of interrelatedness rather than
than people living in the same geographical individuality. This view forms a central idea in
area. The current use of the term refers to groups indigenous African Anthropology as noted by
that are socially and culturally constructed and John Mbiti (cited in Menkiti, n/a), “The African
include people with similar views and interests. view of the person can be summed up in this
Communities are formed in various settings, statement “I am because we are, and since we
for instance on Facebook, at sport clubs, in con- are, therefor I am.” Personhood is thus part and
gregations, through non-profit organisations parcel of belonging to and actively participating
and in the workplace. Careful consideration to in a community.
the current use of the term in Community Psy-
chology is imperative as historically it was as- This view of personhood also emerges in post-
sociated with the separation of race and ethnic modern participatory worldviews that state that
groups in South Africa. the world does not consist of separate elements,
but of relationships, which exist between all
Community psychology in South Africa flows things and shape and affirm communities. This
from an attempt to address social psychologi- view of the world is systemic and holistic.
cal problems in South Africa largely associated
with the apartheid society. This development This view further aligns with the root of Afri-
drew attention to the privileged position of psy- can philosophy, ubuntu as postulated by Ramo-
chologists as professionals and the needs of the se (2002, cited in Duncan et al. 2007). Ramose
disadvantaged communities they were trying (2002, pp. 40 – 42) construes ubuntu to mean
to reach. The increased awareness of this divide “…that to be a human be-ing is to affirm one’s
as well as a shift in inspired active engagement humanity by recognising the humanity in the
with communities to build bridges between the others and, on that basis, establish human rela-
professionals and those they want to serve. tions with them.”

Duncan, Bowman, Naidoo, Pillay, and Roos The view of people as relationally defined,
(2007) formulate a working definition for com- which implies the duty to give the same respect,
munity psychology that depicts the importance diginity, value and acceptance to each member
of engaging with communities to promote men- of the community, underpins one of the most
tal health as follows: prominent meta-theoretical perspectives on
“understanding people in the context of their community psychology, id est. the eco-systemic
communities, using a variety of applied psy- approach. This approach has been adopted glo-
chology concerned with understanding peop- bally and in South Africa. Other meta-theo-
le in the context of their communities, using a retical perspectives include, public and men-
variety of interventions (including prevention, tal health frameworks, critical social theories
health promotion and social action), to faci- (neo—Marxist theories) and behavioural ap-
litate change and improved mental health and proaches (Duncan, et al. 2007).
social conditions for individuals, groups, orga-
nisations and communities.” Assumptions and Values of Community
Psychology
Community psychology has gained popularity According to Duncan et al. (2007) the dyna-
in South Africa as it provides not only an ap- mics of oppression serves as a central focus of
proach that could close the gap between pro- Community Psychology. These dynamics inclu-
fessionals and communities and overcome the de any “power” relation be it related to gender,
shortage of psychologists in South Africa, but race, language, religion, socio-economic status
it harmonises well with the African Worldview or sexual preference. Addressing these dyna-
that emphasises the collective self rather than mics entail empowerment strategies with the
an individual self.
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