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Desiderata: towards indigenous models of vocational psychology

  • Frederick T. L. Leong
  • Marina Pearce
Article
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Abstract

As a result of a relative lack of cross-cultural validity in most current (Western) psychological models, indigenous models of psychology have recently become a popular approach for understanding behaviour in specific cultures. Such models would be valuable to vocational psychology research with culturally diverse populations. Problems facing current psychological models and methods of improving cultural validity are discussed. An integrative model of cross-cultural psychology is reviewed and the relevance of indigenous psychological methods to the advancement of vocational psychology is explained.

Keywords

Indigenous Cross-cultural Cultural validity 

Résumé

Desiderata: vers des modèles indigènes de la psychologie de l’orientation. À la suite d’un manque relatif de validité trans-culturelle dans la plupart des modèles psychologiques actuels (Occidentaux), des modèles indigènes de la psychologie sont récemment devenus une approche populaire dans la compréhension du comportement de cultures spécifiques. Ces modèles seraient utiles à la recherche en orientation professionnelle avec des populations culturellement diverses. Les problèmes auxquels se heurtent actuellement les modèles psychologiques et des méthodes d’amélioration de la validité culturelle sont discutés. Un modèle intégratif de la psychologie interculturelle est examiné et la pertinence des méthodes psychologiques indigènes dans l’avancement de la psychologie de l’orientation est expliquée.

Zusammenfassung

Desiderata: Hin zu indigenen Modellen der Berufspsychologie. Als ein Ergebnis eines relativen Mangels an interkultureller Gültigkeit der meisten aktuellen (westlichen) psychologischen Modelle wurden seit kurzem indigene Modelle der Psychologie ein beliebter Ansatz für das Verständnis von Verhalten in bestimmten Kulturen. Solche Modelle wären wertvoll für die Forschung der Berufspsychologie mit kulturell vielfältigen Populationen. Probleme von aktuellen psychologischen Modellen und Methoden zur Verbesserung der kulturellen Gültigkeit werden diskutiert. Ein integratives Modell der interkulturellen Psychologie wird beschrieben und die Relevanz der indigenen psychologischen Methoden zur Förderung der Berufspsychologie wird erklärt.

Resumen

Desiderata: Hacia Modelos Autóctnos en la Psicología Vocacional. Como resultado de una relativa falta de validez cros-cultural en la mayoría de los modelos psicológicos actuales (occidentales), los enfoques autóctonos han ganado en popularidad para entender el comportamiento en culturas específicas. Dichos modelos serían muy útiles para la investigación en psicología vocacional con poblaciones culturalmente diversas. En este artículo se analizan los problemas que afectan a los modelos psicológicos actuales y los métodos para merjorar la validez cultural. Se propone y revisa un modelo integrador de psicología cros-cultural y se explica la relevancia de los métodos psicológicos autóctonos, para el progreso de la psicología vocacional.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingUSA

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