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

A recent debate about the relevance of South African psychology is reviewed with a view to discerning the metatheoretical assumptions held by the major protagonists. It is shown how a large part of the apparently substantive differences about the ‘relevance’ of psychology actually derives from metatheoretical differences about the nature of social science and of psychology. Furthermore, it is argued that an understanding of these metatheoretical differences should be an essential component of the debate about the relevance of psychology in the South African context.

Politics and Mental Health: The Position of Clinical Psychology in South Africa

Clinical psychology in South Africa, with few exceptions, has been unresponsive to its socio-political context. Attempts by certain authors to make their work relevant to the South African context are examined. Their adherence to a non-critical, conservative ideology is suggested as a reason for the lack of a more powerful critical focus. It is argued that Apartheid (or the policy of racial segregation) adversely affects the mental well-being of most South Africans through its generation of stress situations unique to this society. It is further argued that clinical psychology cannot claim scientific or moral respectability as long as it continues to take an uncritical position. South African clinical psychologists can begin to remedy this situation through the development of appropriate research and training, as well as public pronouncement through their professional associations.

Analysis of Themes and Statistical Techniques: A Review of the past Decade of the South African Journal of Psychology

This review of articles published in the South African Journal of Psychology over the past 10 years includes analyses of themes, theoretical versus review contributions, and statistical techniques used in research articles. It was found that a fair range of themes was covered, with topics relating to clinical/counselling psychology, developmental psychology and personality psychology receiving most attention. Comparatively few articles dealt with theory development. In research contributions the use of basic statistical techniques was clearly favoured above more sophisticated methods of data analysis. No significant changes in the use of statistical techniques occurred over the past 10 years. The results were compared with similar analyses of American journals and general implications of the findings are discussed.