Leporello is on his Knees. In Search of Relevance in South African Psychology

Abstract

By making use of a metaphor derived from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, the author indicates that there are many opportunities for psychologists in South Africa to become involved in some of the burning issues of the day, and that there is a great need for research investment in appropriate areas related to the societal problems that exist in the country. He expresses his concern about the possibility that psychology may become trivialized if the approach adopted becomes excessively academic. The issue of relevance in psychology is addressed in some detail, and he illustrates his concern and draws attention to priorities by means of examples related to policy, peace and international issues, the psychological impact of new technology, crime and violence, disability, and health delivery.Deur middel van 'n metafoor wat ontleen word aan Mozart se opera Don Giovanni dui die skrywer aan dat baie geleenthede vir sielkundiges bestaan om betrokke te raak by die kritieke probleme van die dag in Suid-Afrika en ook dat die behoefte bestaan vir aansienlike betrokkenheid by navorsing in toepaslike gebiede wat verband hou met hedendaagse samelewingsprobleme. Hy spreek sy kommer uit dat daar 'n moontlikheid bestaan dat sielkunde, as gevolg van 'n oormatige akademiese inslag, getrivialiseer sal word. Die skrywer spreek die kwessie van relevansie in die sielkunde in redelike detail aan. Hy dui sy besorgdheid hieroor aan en vestig aandag op prioriteite deur gebruik te rnaak van voorbeelde wat verband hou met beleid, vrede en internasionale sake, die sielkundige irnpak van nuwe tegnologie, misdaad en geweld, gestremdheid, en die voorsiening van gesondheidsdienste.Although the main title may, at first glance, appear obscure, I hope to be able to demonstrate that it is not merely quirky, but is a metaphor that is both powerful and fruitful, and which is highly relevant to the situation regarding psychology in South Africa at present.Once I have dealt with the metaphor, I shall touch upon the current situation in the country, refer to the question of relevance in research, and particularly in psychological research in South Africa at this stage of our history. The main thrust is, however, related to what I regard as some of the priority areas for research in psychology if the discipline is not to become so trivialized that it will be judged as a mere oddity by the social historians of a future age.

One world, one psychology: ‘Relevance’ and ethnopsychology

“…84;90-91). For many years, 'relevance' has been one of the great catchwords of South African psychology (Dawes, 1986;Holdstock, 1981 and, who begins the 1981 paper with the words, 'psychology most certainly rates as one of the most irrelevant endeavours in South African society today ', p. 123;Mauer, 1987;Nell, 1982;Retief, 1989). Moreover, relevance is seen as an important teaching goal by university departments of psychology (Beyers et al, 1988;Tyson, 1987).…”

“…Operationalizing relevance One such conceptualization of human welfare relevance is exemplified in the approach taken by Dawes (1986), Gilbert (1989), and Mauer (1987) in the South African context, or, more widely, by Connolly (1985) and Moghaddam (1987). These papers develop a relevance prospectus (in the sense of an account of the features of their proposed enterprise) proposing specific applications for psychology in South Africa and other developing countries.…”

The Debate about the Relevance of South African Psychology – A Metatheoretical Imperative

“…The major protagonists in the relevance debate also have different views about how psychology can become relevant, but they all agree that psychology should become relevant. Mauer (1987) presents a review of why relevance can be a criterion for psychological research, and Retief (1988) comments upon some of the problems that may accompany an emphasis upon 'relevance' in South African psychology. The indications are that the notion of relevance of social scientific theorizing and research tends to assume special prominence in cultures subject to social upheaval, and, especially so, in some current Third World contexts (Mauer & Retief, 1987).…”

“…Mauer's plea for the social relevance of psychology Mauer (1987) has also made some observations about the relevance of psychology in the South African context, but has confined himself to the social relevance of the discipline by pointing out that psychological research can contribute to certain urgent social problems. He does not make any comments about the status of psychological theory in this process, but it seems to be fairly clear that he operates with the implicit conception that psychology as a discipline and as a mode of knowing will be an effective scientific tool for addressing socially relevant problems.…”

“…This has, in fact, happened amongst psychologists. Examples are Biesheuvel's (1987a;b) concern with the possible contribution of psychology to the resolution of conflicts disturbing South African society, Verster's (1986) investigation of cognitive assessment in the light of black demands for a peoples' education, Dawes's (1985;) observations on the role of clinical psychologists and psychology in South Africa, Ivey's (1986) tentative remarks about the elements of a critical psychology, Taylor and Radford's (1986) analysis of psychological testing as a possible unfair labour practice, and Mauer's (1987) plea for the scientific atonement of psychology in the light of social developments in South Africa. Some of this work (specifically Biesheuvel's and the work that has been done at the National Institute for Personnel Research) has, again, been criticized by Muller, Cloete and Orkin (1986) as ideologically rooted and based on technicist assumptions.…”