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1st Reading:

**Key Points:**

1. **Indigenous Psychologies Overview:**


- The article discusses the concept of indigenous psychologies from a meta-discipline perspective within social
psychology.
- It explores the motivation behind the indigenisation movement and examines semantic difficulties associated with
the concept.

2. **Building-Block Approach:**
- The commonly accepted approach involves increasing numbers of indigenous contributions leading to the
emergence of indigenous psychology.
- The building-block approach suggests that accumulating indigenous research will eventually form a culturally
relevant psychology.

3. **Alternative Approach:**
- An alternative, but often overlooked, approach involves autochthonous discipline development.
- This approach emphasizes seasoned researchers creatively pursuing culturally relevant research, contributing to
the indigenisation process.

4. **Necessity of Both Approaches:**


- Both the building-block approach and autochthonous discipline development are seen as intertwined and
necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the indigenisation process.

5. **Introduction and Spread of Psychology:**


- The objective of international psychology is to spread and develop the discipline globally, addressing local thought
and behavior.
- The contemporary discipline of psychology, developed in the United States, has been imported worldwide but is
criticized for being acultural and positivistic.

6. **Evolution of Indigenisation Movement:**


- The indigenisation movement began about two decades ago, gaining momentum from the Edinburgh Symposium
in 1982.
- Over time, it evolved into a recognized research topic area within cross-cultural psychology.

7. **Definitions of Indigenous Psychology:**


- The meaning of "indigenous psychology" is vaguely conceptualized and not well understood.
- The term implies modifying the imported discipline to fit the culture so well that it appears indigenous.

8. **Confusion in Definitions:**
- There is confusion about the meaning of indigenous psychology, leading to various definitions.
- Sinha identified four underlying threads in proposed definitions, emphasizing cultural appropriateness.

9. **Stages of Indigenisation:**
- The evolution of indigenisation involves growing acknowledgment of the limitations of Western models,
acceptance of problem-oriented research, and sensitivity to local customs driven by indigenous traditions.

10. **Indigenisation Goals:**


- Indigenisation of the discipline is often perceived as altering the content of psychology to make it culturally
sensitive.
- The goal is to change methods, tests, concepts, and theories to enhance relevance and applicability to the
culture.

11. **Indigenous Contributions vs. Indigenous Psychologies:**


- Indigenous contributions are often mistaken for the development of indigenous psychology.
- Indigenous research should not be equated with a narrow search for native traits but should focus on developing
an appropriate psychology for the culture.

12. **Challenges and Misconceptions:**


- Due to confusion about the indigenisation process, some researchers may engage in inadequate attempts
referred to as "cosmetic indigenisation."
- Indigenous contributions are sometimes misunderstood as models for culturally appropriate research, leading to
misconceptions about the indigenisation goal.

**Key Points (Continued):**

13. **Models for Indigenous Psychologies:**


- The article explores different models for indigenous psychologies, emphasizing the need for guidance in
developing indigenous approaches.
- Four alternative indigenous psychology approaches or strategies are identified: linguistic, empirical, applied, and
meta-discipline or pragmatic.

14. **Linguistic Approaches:**


- The linguistic approach focuses on concepts within the native language that capture the essence of thought,
values, or behaviors.
- It involves semantic elaboration and rejection of Western research terms, models, philosophy, and methods.

15. **Empirical Approaches:**


- Empirical approaches document cultural distinctiveness through empirical testing of indigenous values, concepts,
and behaviors.
- Examples include Díaz-Guerrero's ethnopsychology and Choi, Kim, and Choi's assessment of word connotations
in Korean society.

16. **Applied Approach:**


- Research contributing to the resolution of national social problems is considered indigenous, focusing the
discipline on the local context.
- Problem-focused research is urged as an intentional strategy to address local issues.
17. **Meta-discipline or Pragmatic Approaches:**
- A meta-discipline approach considers factors influencing the focus of the national discipline on culturally relevant
variables.
- It includes considerations of the number of psychologists with a nationalistic focus, indigenous graduate research
training, teaching materials, and research tools.

18. **Social Psychology of Science Perspective:**


- The article proposes to explore the concept of indigenisation of psychology from the perspective of the social
psychology of science.
- Focuses on behavioral elements influencing the indigenisation process, emphasizing the researcher as the agent
for change.

19. **Researcher's Role in Indigenisation:**


- Questions raised include what the researcher needs to do to make research more culturally appropriate and the
factors affecting ease or difficulty.
- Examines researcher's awareness of the need for an indigenous approach and who makes and answers the call
for indigenisation.

20. **Why the Need for Indigenous Psychologies:**


- The article discusses the source of appeals for indigenous psychologies, including the ill fit of mainstream
psychology, unique characteristics of the discipline, societal factors, and researcher considerations.

21. **Challenges for Individual Researchers:**


- Newly graduated or young researchers may replicate Western studies for validation rather than charting new
ground for indigenous development.
- Lack of models for culturally sensitive research in their native country and focus on method-t over
problem-centered approaches are challenges.

22. **‘‘Front’’ vs. Mass of Discipline:**


- Distinction between scholarly leaders (the '‘front’’) who set trends and contribute to the discipline's advancement
and the majority of psychologists (the '‘mass’’) producing incremental research.
- Cutting-edge researchers play a crucial role in indigenous conceptualization, but the ‘‘mass’’ needs strategies for
growth and development.

23. **Applied Research and Discipline Development:**


- Applied research is considered effective for promoting culturally appropriate discipline development.
- It engages psychologists in their own culture, builds confidence, addresses local problems, and strengthens the
status of the local discipline.

24. **Problem-Oriented Research:**


- Problem-oriented research, whether guided by theory or not, is viewed as a useful direction to pursue for
indigenous development.
- Encourages researchers to solve problems rather than focusing solely on demonstrating methodological rigor.
**Key Points (Continued):**

25. **Discipline Development and Indigenisation in Canada:**


- The article provides a case example of the indigenisation process in Canadian psychology, emphasizing the need
for cultural sensitivity in research as the discipline undergoes growth and change.
- Despite being an independent country, Canada initially faced challenges due to the overwhelming influence of the
United States in academia and psychology.

26. **Challenges in Canadian Psychology:**


- Canadian psychology initially imported faculty from the US, resulting in the teaching of mostly US-based
psychology to Canadian students.
- Lack of Canadian research examples and a dearth of supplementary teaching materials contributed to the
challenge of establishing a distinct Canadian psychology.

27. **Canadianisation Process:**


- The indigenisation or "Canadianisation" of psychology in Canada was gradual and took about 20 years.
- Steps included closing the door to imported faculty, promoting "Canadian First" in hiring, and increasing the
number of Canadian-trained faculty.
- Developments in research, infrastructure, and policies led to the emergence of a distinct Canadian psychology.

28. **Shift Toward Culturally Relevant Research:**


- As Canadian faculty, both imported and Canadian-trained, established research programs, the amount and
quality of research increased.
- Focus shifted to topics of national and cultural relevance, addressing multiculturalism, immigration, acculturation,
bilingualism, stereotypes, and prejudice.

29. **Publication of Canadian-authored Textbook:**


- The culmination of the Canadianisation process was marked by the publication of a Canadian-authored textbook
that highlighted Canadian research as part of the world literature in social psychology.

30. **Lessons Learned from Canadianisation:**


- The indigenisation process was broader than focusing on Canadian issues; it involved discipline development
and cultural sensitivity.
- The gradual process required the development of a critical mass of researchers capable of independent,
problem-centered research, along with an awareness of culture-specific thoughts and behaviors.

31. **Implications for Indigenous Psychologies:**


- The article proposes a broader definition of indigenous psychology, including two sub-goals: making research
more culturally sensitive and making the discipline autochthonous (indigenous).
- Culturally sensitive contributions stimulate indigenous research, and discipline development strengthens the base
of researchers conducting this research.
- The intertwining of cultural sensitivity and autochthonous development is crucial for the maturation of indigenous
psychologies.
32. **Conceptualization of Indigenous Psychologies:**
- Indigenous psychologies should be seen as mature, self-sustaining scientific disciplines that address the specific
needs of a culture or country.
- The development of indigenous psychologies requires hard investigative work on mature psychological
explanations of behavior typical within each country, emphasizing the importance of making the discipline
autochthonous.

2nd Reading:

**Key Points:**

1. **Introduction:**
- The author reflects on the past, present, and future of Asian social psychology.
- Acknowledges limitations such as language constraints, primarily relying on English publications for insights into
Asian social psychology.

2. **Defining Asian Social Psychology:**


- Asian social psychology is broadly defined as social psychology about Asians, or social psychology done with, by,
or for Asians.
- The author acknowledges the need for a refined definition later in the paper.

3. **Looking In and Looking Out:**


- The author adopts complementary perspectives: looking into Asian social psychology and looking outwards from
Asia-Pacific to the global stage.
- Parallels are drawn between experiences in Asian social psychology, feminist psychology, and cross-cultural
psychology.

4. **Developing Indigenous Psychologies:**


- The importance of Asians understanding themselves for the world to understand Asian social psychology is
emphasized.
- Indigenous psychologies involve understanding behavior and experience from an indigenous perspective.
- Enriquez's distinction between indigenization from within and from without is discussed.

5. **Early Trends in Asian Social Psychology:**


- Early challenges included the minimal amount of information available on Asian populations.
- The initial approach involved adding Asians to psychological research, replicating classic studies with Asian
participants.

6. **Moving Beyond the "Invisible" Asian:**


- The narrative shifted from merely "adding Asians" to psychology to understanding Asians in their own terms.
- Concerns are raised about uncritically exporting Western constructs for external validation or comparison.
7. **Looking In (Current Trends):**
- Current trends in Asian social psychology are discussed in terms of theory, measurement, and application.
- Enriquez's indigenization from within and from without is used as an organizing principle.

8. **Developments in Theory - Indigenization from Without:**


- Examples include research on the self-serving bias in Asian societies, where cultural differences in attributional
patterns are explored.
- Research on the need for achievement in Chinese cultures involves indigenization from without, adding a
social-oriented dimension.

9. **Developments in Theory - Indigenization from Within:**


- Indigenous constructs like "face" and "amae" are explored from within Asian social psychology.
- Theories emphasize indigenous perspectives, such as Hwang's focus on face and favor in Chinese social
behavior.

10. **Conclusion of the Paper:**


- The paper concludes with a focus on indigenization from within and cross-indigenous perspectives, moving
towards a global psychology.
- The importance of understanding Asians in their own terms as a prelude to a global social psychology is
emphasized.

Continuation:
This extensive passage discusses various aspects of Asian social psychology, emphasizing indigenization,
measurement methods, indigenous applications, and the challenges faced in the global arena. Here's a summary:

1. **Indigenous Measurements and Methods:**


- The importance of culturally appropriate measures is highlighted.
- Issues with the universality of personality dimensions, especially Openness, for Chinese populations are
discussed.
- Chinese researchers propose a seven-factor model for personality, including factors like kindness, behavior
styles, talents, emotionality, human relations, and ways of life.
- The Chinese Personality Assessment Inventory (CPAI) is introduced, emphasizing indigenous constructs such as
Dependability, Interpersonal Relatedness, Social Potency, and Individualism.

2. **Filipino Contributions:**
- Filipino psychologists have developed over 200 indigenous measures, with notable work by Church and Katigbak
on the Philippine Student Research Form (PSRF).
- PSRF identifies six dimensions: Broadmindedness, Responsibility, Social Potency, Concern for Others, Affective
Well-being, and Emotional Control.

3. **Indigenous Methods:**
- Limited attention has been given to indigenous methods, but Rogelia Pe-Pua's work on pagtatanong-tanong
(asking questions) in rural Filipino research is highlighted.
4. **Indigenous Applications:**
- Asian social psychology places a strong emphasis on application, especially in developing countries like India and
the Philippines.
- Applied topics include literacy, education, science, technology, community psychology, political psychology, and
peacekeeping.

5. **Cross-Indigenization and Global Psychology:**


- The concept of "cross-indigenization" is discussed, emphasizing the global movement of indigenous psychologies.
- Asian social psychologists contribute to the development of a global psychology by exporting indigenous ideas
and testing them in other cultural contexts.

6. **Politics and Power in the Global Arena:**


- Challenges arise regarding the flow of information between Western and Asian psychologists.
- The influence of Western psychology, especially American, is discussed, and concerns are raised about the
potential "Americanization" of Asian social psychology.

7. **Evaluation and Future Directions:**


- Asian social psychology has made progress in terms of indigenization, application, and theoretical refinement.
- Future challenges include determining the target audience (regional or global) and deciding whether Asian social
psychology should integrate into a broader, culturally sensitive understanding of human behavior.

8. **Final Thoughts:**
- The passage ends with a contemplation on the future of Asian social psychology, emphasizing the need for
greater visibility, the challenge of being compared to Western psychology, and the potential for Asian contributions to
shape a global psychology.

4th Reading:

Summary and Key Points:

The article by Ramon C. Reyes explores the concept of "Filipino Thought" and its sources, emphasizing the unique
perspective of the Filipino people. Here are the key points:

1. **Introduction to Filipino Thought:**


- The author acknowledges the challenge of defining "Filipino Thought" due to the absence of a well-defined
tradition like those of China, India, or the Greco-Roman Judaic-Christian West.
- Despite this, comparative philosophy identifies essential traits unique to each tradition.

2. **Development of Thought:**
- The thought of a people typically evolves in two stages: vital thought (involving myths, rituals, language, etc.) and
reflexive thought (analyzing and justifying vital thought).
- Great thinkers are considered prophets, revealing the essence of their people through their work.
3. **Comparison with Other Traditions:**
- The Philippines, influenced by Spanish, American, and Christian history, may seem closer to the West, but deeper
analysis suggests otherwise.
- Contrasts are drawn between Western emphasis on objective knowledge, Indian focus on salvation and union
with the Absolute, and Chinese stress on human relationships.

4. **Chinese Influence on Filipino Thought:**


- Filipino thought is likened to Chinese thought, emphasizing the importance of human relationships.
- The ethical nature of relationships, guided by virtues like humaneness and uprightness, is highlighted.

5. **Filipino Perception of Reality:**


- The Filipino perceives reality through family and small primary groups.
- Animistic views, influenced by pre-Spanish beliefs in spirits, have been replaced by Christian devotions.

6. **Filipino Work Ethic:**


- The Filipino values hard work and endurance, attributing success to luck and recognizing the importance of
familial debts.

7. **Filipino Views on the Absolute:**


- The Filipino worldview acknowledges immanence but also emphasizes gradual renunciation of self and the world
for the realization of the Absolute.

8. **Three Areas of Filipino Thought:**


- The article suggests three potential areas of Filipino thought: reevaluation of social structures, industrialization
and technological development, and religion.

9. **Religious Perspective:**
- The Filipino Christian's claim to being the only Christian nation in Asia is questioned.
- The article proposes the need for an authentic Filipino theology rooted in the people's experience, marked by
ontological relatedness and a unique perspective on evil.

10. **Conclusion:**
- No people or historical epoch holds the Truth, but each culture gains access to its measure of truth by remaining
faithful to its spirit.

The article reflects on the intricate interplay between cultural, historical, and philosophical factors shaping Filipino
thought.

5th Article:

Summary and Key Points:


The article by Amaryllis T. Torres discusses the shifting paradigms in Philippine psychology, focusing on the
influences of postmodernism and feminism. Here are the key points:

1. **Introduction to Epistemological Influences:**


- Postmodernism and feminism are introduced as two philosophical ideas significantly influencing social and human
sciences.
- Postmodernism rejects universal definitions, emphasizing local, specific, and historically informed analyses that
celebrate differences.

2. **Postmodernism's Characteristics:**
- Rejects universal, simplified definitions of social phenomena.
- Emphasizes local, specific, and historically informed analysis.
- Calls for the recognition and celebration of differences.
- Acknowledges the partial nature of all knowledge claims.
- Challenges the imposition of Western theories on Southern countries.

3. **Feminism as a Philosophical Stream:**


- Feminism challenges patriarchy, seeks gender equity, and critiques male-centered social science.
- Shares similarities with postmodernism in emphasizing differences and the impact of language and discourse.

4. **Empiricism and Experimental Work:**


- The author discusses the historical influence of empirico-positivism on Philippine psychology, especially in the
realms of experimental and correlational research.
- Empirico-positivism relies on experimental and objective modes of theory testing, mathematical language, and
procedural integrity.

5. **Limitations of Empirico-Positivism:**
- The author questions the narrow focus of empirical research on a specific demographic, primarily college students
in Metro Manila, representing a small fraction of the national population.
- Highlights the limitations of empirical procedures in providing a comprehensive understanding of reality, especially
when applied to diverse cultural contexts.

6. **Challenges and Future Directions:**


- Raises questions about the applicability of experimental findings across different cultural and social contexts.
- Encourages a shift from the rigid empirico-positivist approach to more creative and innovative methods in
psychological research.

The article critically examines the dominant paradigms in Philippine psychology, highlighting the need for more
inclusive, context-specific, and culturally sensitive approaches influenced by postmodernism and feminism.

Continuation:

**Critiques of Empirico-Positivism:**
- Empirico-positivism faces criticism from postmodernist perspectives, challenging the idea of experiments arriving at
universal truths.
- Postmodernist thought argues that meta-narratives in social sciences may silence competing voices, and truth is
considered a partial, localized version of reality influenced by social, cultural, and historical contexts.

**Feminist Critique of Empirico-Positivism:**


- Feminism criticizes positivist approaches, asserting that social theory replicates male dominance and overlooks
fundamental gender differences.
- Controlling for sex in experiments may eliminate valuable insights into masculine and feminine psychological
processes.
- Postmodern feminism contends that every discourse with a subject is unique to the individual within an engendered
linguistic and historical context.

**Indigenization and Sikolohiyang Pilipino:**


- In the 1970s, questions about the cultural specificity of Western theories and tools in the Philippine setting emerged.
- Sikolohiyang Pilipino, an indigenization movement, aimed to establish the universality of psychology through
cultural specificity.
- It resisted the hegemony of Western psychological literature and focused on Filipino values, giving importance to
the concept of kapwa.

**Challenges to Sikolohiyang Pilipino:**


- Criticism of Sikolohiyang Pilipino includes concerns about gender-blindness and the lack of representation of
indigenous knowledge from various ethnic groups.
- Critics argue that the key concepts are rooted in Tagalog and may not be applicable to diverse indigenous and
ethnolinguistic groups.
- Feminist psychologists point out gender-blindness, lack of differentiation, and absence of women's voices in
Sikolohiyang Pilipino studies.

**Field Studies in Philippine Psychology:**


- Field studies emerged alongside indigenous psychology, attempting to describe psychology outside of the
classroom and among diverse sectors.
- Characteristics of field studies include situating behavior within the context of Philippine society, involving subjects
from outside universities, using multimethods, and interpreting data from an interdisciplinary standpoint.
- Field studies have contributed to a better understanding of relationships between behavioral factors and their
connections with economics, health, demography, education, politics, and other dimensions of social life.

**Critiques of Field Studies:**


- Postmodernism criticizes field methods for their lack of concern for individual discourse, arguing that they seek to
establish ahistoric universals within a complex social context.
- Feminist critique suggests that many field studies fail to incorporate a feminine perspective, overlooking issues of
gender stereotypes, male dominance, and female subordination.

In summary, the article explores the evolution of paradigms in Philippine psychology, examining the influences of
postmodernism, feminism, and the indigenization movement. It critically assesses the limitations of
empirico-positivism, advocates for more inclusive research methods, and discusses the challenges and criticisms
faced by Sikolohiyang Pilipino and field studies in Philippine psychology.

Continuation:

Continuation:

**Existentialism and Phenomenology:**


- Existentialism rejects the pursuit of universal, objective, and certain knowledge, focusing instead on individual
human experience.
- Phenomenology aims to understand human experience by studying consciousness, considering ideas, wishes, and
material objects as phenomena.
- Clinical psychology in the Philippines has been deeply influenced by existentialism and phenomenology,
emphasizing the need for new methods to capture the richness of human experience.

**Clinical Psychology in the Philippines:**


- Clinical psychologists like Carandang and Fr. Bulatao have adopted existential-phenomenological approaches.
- Carandang emphasizes the importance of individual, subjective, and introspective experience as a knowledge base
for clinical psychology.
- Fr. Bulatao's work on altered states of consciousness incorporates introspective data from personal experiences,
proposing two modes of the mind: objective and subjective.

**Challenges and Reconciliation:**


- Clinical psychologists in the Philippines recognize the need to reconcile existential-phenomenological epistemology
with empirico-positivism.
- Despite adopting phenomenological approaches, there's a constant theme of reconciling this with the
empirico-positivist system.
- Issues such as conducting experiments on consciousness and the ability of clinical psychologists to perform
credible research are discussed.

**Feminist Perspectives:**
- Some feminists propose that psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have the potential to contribute to feminist
discourse, but caution remains about existing theories being male-centered.
- Calls are made for more systematic efforts to recognize and address differences in feminine and masculine
experiences within therapy.

**Conclusions and Moving Forward:**


- Philippine psychology has been heavily influenced by empirico-positivism, but there's a need to recognize the
inadequacies of this paradigm.
- Opportunities for psychologists in the Philippines lie in applied work, addressing complex social and economic
problems.
- Acknowledgment that psychologists can't always be objective scientists and must recognize their involvement in the
processes they study.
- Realization that people's thoughts and behaviors go beyond complete predictability, challenging the positivist
paradigm.
- Postmodernism and feminism offer alternative perspectives, emphasizing local and historical character and the
pragmatic test of knowledge.
- Psychology in the Philippines can become more dynamic and creative by recognizing various epistemologies and
embracing a full-fledged Filipino Psychology.

In summary, the address highlights the evolution of paradigms in Philippine psychology, emphasizing the influences
of existentialism, phenomenology, and the challenges of reconciling these with empirico-positivism. It underscores
the need for diverse epistemologies to build a comprehensive Filipino Psychology that considers local and historical
contexts.

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