An Ontological Turn for Psychology in the Age of the Machine and Global Warming

Abstract

This essay pays homage to indigenous psychology by reiterating its central theme – decolonization – through a variant of the theme in the call for an ontological turn. Ontology refers to human’s basic commitments and assumptions about reality, namely what things are, and what they could be. It is argued that ontologies have consequences. The ontology of objects privileged in science facilitates the acquisition of objective knowledge in the physical world, but cannot improve our understanding of the culturally different other whose lives may be shaped by ontology of subjects. Ethnographic data from Southeast Asia are used as illustration of how ontology of subjects may fill a moral vacuum in value-neutral science and give psychology better insights into the problems of advanced technology ranging from automatization to global warming.

A Pioneering Effort to Give Voices to Indigenous Psychology in Southeast Asia

“…These include the Filipino values of “ kapwa ” (shared identity) and Indonesian values of “ Mangan ora mangan sing penting kumpul ” and “ Dalihan Na Tolu ” (both referring to the importance of kinship) in relation to one’s preferred sources of social supports (Barrozo et al., 2023), Filipino coping strategies of “ diskarte ” (resourcefulness) and “ bayanihan ” (mutual, collective support) in managing mental health challenges (Umil et al, 2023), the “ Sikolohiyang Pilipino ” (Filipino Psychology) movement in the Philippines (Terol et al, 2023), the “ kiasu ” mindset (fear of losing out; Cheng & Wee, 2023), and traditional Chinese healing practices of “ dang-ki ” (consultations with a divine deity; Lee, 2023) in Singapore. The contributions all address sustainable development goals in SEA communities, such as mental health challenges and practices in Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and Singapore (Lee, 2023); the marginalization of ethnic minority groups (Prawira et al, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023); effects of postcolonialism in the Philippines (Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023) and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023); and issues of urbanization, deforestation, and climate change in Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023). Some assessed specifically the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SEA populations’ well-being, including comparisons of COVID-19 stigma and quality of life in Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023), the associated factors of self-harm and suicide ideation among Chinese Indonesians (Prawira et al, 2023), and the mental health challenges faced and coping strategies utilized by doctors working in rural areas in the Philippines (Umil et al, 2023).…”

“…Collectively, this special issue also features a variety of research methodologies including qualitative (Barrozo et al, 2023; Lee, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and quantitative (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), as well as conceptual papers (Cheng & Wee, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023). The contributions also feature a variety of SEA countries: Singapore (Cheng & Wee, 2023; ), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al., 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023), Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023) and collaborations across Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023).…”

“…Collectively, this special issue also features a variety of research methodologies including qualitative (Barrozo et al, 2023; Lee, 2023; Umil et al, 2023) and quantitative (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), as well as conceptual papers (Cheng & Wee, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023). The contributions also feature a variety of SEA countries: Singapore (Cheng & Wee, 2023; ), the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al., 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023), Indonesia (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023) and collaborations across Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023). Some included marginalized populations and Indigenous people in SEA, such as the Clarkfield Aytas community (Terol et al., 2023) and the rural Eastern Visayas community in the Philippines (Umil et al, 2023), ethnic minority Chinese Indonesians in Indonesia (Prawira et al, 2023), traditional Chinese devotees in Singapore (Lee, 2023), and the Indigenous people ( Orang Asli ) in Malaysia (Sundararajan, 2023).…”

“…There is a strong practice focus in many of the contributions. Importantly, the voices of a variety of populations during the pandemic are featured, such as helping professionals (Barrozo et al, 2023), frontliners (Umil et al, 2023), Chinese diaspora (Lee, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023), and Indigenous people (Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al., 2023). The contributions describe the various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in this region, which, in turn, can inform policy makers and future community engagements with healthcare practitioners.…”

“…The contributions describe the various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in this region, which, in turn, can inform policy makers and future community engagements with healthcare practitioners. Contributions also focus on translating their empirical findings to target the UN sustainable goals in less developed countries, including promoting good health and well-being (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Barrozo et al, 2023; Prawira et al, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023), reducing inequalities (Balmores-Paulino et al, 2023; Sundararajan, 2023; Terol et al, 2023), building sustainable cities and communities, addressing climate action (Sundararajan, 2023), and strengthening partnerships toward addressing these goals (Terol et al, 2023). There is also a focus in some contributions on the influence of unique aspects of religious/spiritual and traditional healing methods (Lee, 2023; Terol et al, 2023; Umil et al, 2023).…”