Psychology without culture is almost dead: A case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australian out-of-home care

Mohajer Abbass Hameed,Shaun Coade

doi:10.5204/ijcis.v11i1.560

Abstract

From its inception as a unique discipline, the broad field of psychology has made substantial advances and has contributed to innovative practices in the care of individuals presenting with mental distress within Western Euro-American societies and cultures. The aim of this brief article is to provide a constructive critical analysis of the key limitations, knowledge shortfalls, ineffective assessment approaches and treatment modalities of “mainstream” psychology in addressing the psychological needs of children affiliating with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australian out-of-home care. This article selectively draws from an in-depth analysis of the research literature and argues that in its current state, psychology without consideration of Indigenous culture has failed to satisfactorily improve psychological services and outcomes for these children and their families; in other words, psychology without culture is almost dead. This brief article raises various questions for future psychological research within this field and proposes feasible alternatives to these complex issues, supported by successful examples from the child abuse and neglect domain within the child welfare systems in Australia. It concludes with key recommendations for future appropriate inclusive psychological research, with the ultimate goal of strengthening culturally endorsed “healing” practices, service delivery and policies.

Highlights

In terms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, Australian psychology has a Black history (Garvey, Dudgeon and Kearins 2000)
We argue that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australian out-of-home care, explaining current high-risk behaviours merely in relation to the child’s past traumatic experiences is too simplistic as it does not account for historical and current circumstances, or the broader socio-economic and cultural factors that may contribute to and/or elicit these highrisk behaviours
In terms of research, the Maori writer Linda Tuhiwai Smith (2013) states that “research is probably one of the dirtiest words in the Indigenous world’s vocabulary” (1), and strongly calls for the “decolonisation” of research methodologies, as well as a new agenda for Indigenous research. While this is a desirable aim, we argue that mainstream psychological research methods are at least to a certain extent potentially compatible with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage (Gorman & Toombs 2009)

Summary

Disclaimer on publication

Authors’ affiliations are provided for identification and correspondence purposes only and are not intended to convey or imply concurrence with, or support for, the positions, opinions or viewpoints expressed by the authors. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this paper lies entirely with the authors

Introduction

Psychological assessments and outcome measures

Psychological treatments and therapeutics

Findings

Conclusion