Apartheid in South Africa: Toward a model of psychological intervention

  • Ashraf Kagee
  • Joseph L. Price
Articles

Abstract

In this paper the authors argue that Euro-American ‘mainstream’ models of psychological intervention have limited value in the context of South African apartheid. Given the unique nature of political oppression and economic disparity, apartheid in South Africa is a contributing etiological factor in the onset of psychological difficulties. The case is made that counselling and psychotherapy must go beyond merely dealing with intrapsychic phenomena, toward a mandate to address political, economic and social variables which influence behavior. Reformulations have occurred in the nature and form of apartheid resulting in a dynamic political and economic system that promises further shifts in the future. Given the undeniable delay between legal and political change on one hand, and the fundamental transformation of South Africa from a position of racism and violence to a democratic, non-racial society on the other hand, the search for alternative psychological intervention models will remain an imperative.

Keywords

Economic System Intervention Model Etiological Factor Psychological Intervention Political Change 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1994

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ashraf Kagee
    • 1
  • Joseph L. Price
    • 1
  1. 1.Centre for Student CounsellingUniversity of the Western CapeBellvilleSouth Africa

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