Culture and Psychology is an undergraduate course that started running in Semester 1, 2022.  Held as an elective in 2022 and 2023, the course is now mandatory for all students seeking entry into honours in Psychology at ANU. 

The course situates mainstream psychology in the culture from which it has emerged and then explores some psychological implications of practicing psychology as a Eurocentric science, particularly in the context of the colonial history of Australia. Students also learn how to apply their knowledge of cross-cultural differences in their real lives and work, and develop an understanding of difficulties practitioners may face in working with clients whose culture is different from their own. 

At its core, the course integrates a diverse array of guest lecturers, each bringing their unique expertise and cultural background to the course and offering unique perspectives on the discipline. The knowledge the guest lecturers bring not only broadens students’ understanding but also creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared learning. 

The course is grounded in Indigenous psychology and decolonisation, delving into the historical context, challenges and strengths of Indigenous peoples, fostering a sound understanding among students. This section of the course is purposefully led by Dr Evans, an Indigenous academic, who aims to nurture a sense of social justice and critical thinking within the students. The carefully developed tutorials also offer a platform for students to engage in dialogue and reflection activities that facilitate a deeper understanding of the course material. This interactive approach ensures that students actively engage with Indigenous research methods and knowledge systems, allowing them to internalise and apply the concepts covered in the lectures.

I think this course is probably the most important course that I will ever take. The content that it taught is so important and the fact that the course did not just state the relationship between culture and psychology, but it also presented how this plays out in clinical work.

Student comment

I’m so glad that this course is going to be mandatory for all Psychology major students. It was the first subject in the discipline that we even touched on the philosophy of science, and that took a step back from psychology as a discipline itself to examine the context in which it developed.

Student comment