moghaddam discussion

Five brave souls converged on a St-Henri apartment for Psych-IDS's first discussion group, using Moghaddam's Implications for Psychology in the Three Worlds to push off our series by reflecting on what, exactly, we mean by applying psychology to development in the first place. Moghaddam argues that the developing world doesn't require the therapeutic approach that adapts individuals to societal demands - his so-called "modulative psychology," which dominates in the developed world - but a new "generative psychology" that helps mould societies to their people's needs instead.

In discussing how indigenous psychologies might differ from those transplanted from the rich West, two participants described their experience with traditional healing in Ghana and Brazil; there was also a sly reminder that maintaining a "skeptical" attitude toward one's own beliefs is a hallmark of the very scientific mindset that we try to stay skeptical of when working overseas. In the end, we need to hear what more people have achieved out there - and we look forward to finding out what steps have been taken in the developing world since Moghaddam's 1990 survey. Accompaniments: tea and self-conscious pumpkin pie.