Construction and validation of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (MASPAD)

This paper describes the development of the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (MASPAD), a bidimensional instrument designed to assess acculturation strategies (i.e., Traditionalist, Integrationist, Assimilationist, and Marginalist). Two studies were conducted to describe the development of the MASPAD and to assess its psychometric properties. Data were collected from 367 African American participants in Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; Los Angeles; and New York City, NY. The MASPAD consistently produced scores with adequate reliability and independent raters provided initial evidence for face and content validity. Pearson correlation coefficients supported the purported orthogonality of the MASPAD subscales. The MASPAD was found to be a significant predictor of cultural worldview and values. The bidimensional model of acculturation theorized to exist in the MASPAD was supported with a confirmatory factor analysis on data collected from 831 participants. Future directions for this body of research are discussed.     

The Effect of African American Skin Color on Hiring Preferences1

The role of African American skin color in hiring decisions was investigated in a 2 × 2 × 2 (Participant Sex × Applicant Sex × Applicant Skin Color) design. College‐age participants (N= 107) were presented with stimuli and asked to make 8 employment‐related decisions. An interaction of applicant skin color and participant sex and a skin‐color main effect were predicted. Fair‐skinned applicants were expected to receive better ratings from men, while dark‐skinned applicants were expected to receive better ratings from women or ratings from women would not differ. Additionally, in general, fair‐skinned individuals were expected to receive better ratings than dark‐skinned individuals. The results were consistent with the hypotheses. Results are discussed in terms of the “what is beautiful is good” stereotype and prior research.     

Women of African Descent and Protestantism

This article aims to highlight critical elements of the Brazilian history and context as a basis for understanding the participation and action of women of African descent within Brazilian Protestantism. It begins by reviewing the establishment of Protestant denominations in Brazil against the background of slavery, which was abolished only in 1888, before turning to how a national identity was developed in Brazil that strove to be White, ignoring inequalities due to slavery, and the existence of racism in Brazil, thereby feeding what came to be known as the “myth of the Brazilian racial democracy.” The article goes on to discuss the historical and continuing conditions of women of African descent, and to offer elements for a clearer understanding of the lives of women of African descent in Protestant churches in Brazil.     

从进化心理学的角度解读心理韧性

虽然目前暂时无法说明心理韧性到底是什么样的心理系统,但从进化心理学的角度来看,心理韧性意味着一种在生存困境中的自我保护本能.通过还原心理韧性的功能特征,并考察心理韧性的背景信息,有助于将心理韧性的系统认识和功能认识辩证地结合起来,相互启发和验证,指引心理韧性研究的新方向.     

从跨文化心理学到文化建构主义心理学——心理学中文化意识的衍变

心理学中的文化意识在跨文化心理学、文化心理学、文化建构主义心理学中经历了3次重大衍变。跨文化心理学视文化为心理规律的干扰因素,认为理论研究应力求“去文化”;文化心理学认为心理是文化的“投射”,寻求理论的“文化敏感”;文化建构主义心理学则认为心理与文化是相互灌注、相互建构的关系,因而更加关注“心理”、“意义”与“现实”的双向建构过程。本文详细分析了上述几种不同的文化意识形态的主要特点,并结合历史背景,对其各自的意义、问题做了简要讨论。     

Empirical Race Psychology and the Hermeneutics of Epistemological Violence

After identifying the discipline of psychology’s history of contributing pioneers and leaders to the field of race research, epistemological problems in empirical psychology are identified including an adherence to a naïve empiricist philosophy of science. The reconstruction focuses on the underdetermined relationship between data and interpretation. It is argued that empirical psychology works under a hermeneutic deficit and that this deficit leads to the advancement of interpretations regarding racialized groups that are detrimental to those groups. Because these interpretations are understood as actions that bring harm to certain racialized groups, and because these actions are made in the name of science and knowledge, the term epistemological violence is applied. Reflections regarding the meanings and consequences of this term in empirical psychology and the human sciences are presented.     

The Psychology of Nice People

Popular culture often describes being nice as a social disadvantage. However, research repeatedly finds that being agreeable is associated with a number of advantages. Literature noting the positive benefits of being agreeable is reviewed. The paper also addresses how agreeableness, one of the Big Five personality dimensions, is linked with higher-quality friendships, successful parenting, better academic and career performance, and health. The case is made that being agreeable is not equated to being easily influenced nor is it an artifact because of social desirability. Finally, cultural and gender differences related to agreeableness are addressed. Based on the review of the literature, it is postulated that being agreeable may be the path to enduring interpersonal relationships, happiness, success, and well-being.     

"心理国情"与启蒙

所谓“心理国情”指一个民族精神的潜在特质 :一方面 ,它构成了不同民族精神风貌实质上的差异 ;另一方面 ,这里的所谓“精神”指的并不是在“明”的意义上而言 ,比如它不是学院意义上的“理性”或者“哲学”精神 ,也不是成文的东西 ,诸如法或者制度 ,而是指精神活动“暗”的或潜在的方面 ,即人的“内心动作”。显然 ,这样的界定不太合乎我们的学术思考习惯 ,因为当我们谈到“精神”时 ,往往只是从纯粹哲学的角度考虑问题 ,并由此形成了一个无形中的界限 ,一套学术话语。而我们的讨论则试图把精神引导到我们的思考习惯之外。所谓“启蒙” ,就…     

Perceptions of Race and Race Relations Which Affect African American Identification1

This study examined life experience and demographic variables which impact on racial identification. One hundred and sixty-two African American adults. including 62 males and 100 females, were interviewed to identify and determine the importance of demographic versus life experience variables with respect to the level of African American racial identification. The data were collected utilizing a structured interview protocol and a 31-item racial identification questionnaire. Information on experiences with race relations, income, education. political and social activities. the level and quality of intra-group interaction. and the orientation of subjects on three parameters of racial identification-psychological. physical, and sociocultural—was collected. The results indicate that perceived experiences of racism have an important impact on each parameter of racial identification. Within-group conflict variables have their greatest impact on the physical parameter and within-group interaction has its greatest impact on psychological racial identification.