PSYCHOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Authors

  • Hilde Van Vlaenderen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159//2309-8708/2001/n27a9

Abstract

In developing countries, psychology is faced with the challenge of providing knowledge and services that contribute to national development. However, opinions on how psychology can play a role in processes of rapid social change vary between psychologists of different persuasions. A short overview is presented of the various possible roles of psychology, congruent with different development paradigms. Adoption of a people centred development paradigm, which is based on people's participation and empowerment and which relies on people's local knowledge is proposed. Subsequently the Participatory Action Research approach is introduced as a social science paradigm congruent with a people centred approach. The main characteristics of the approach are discussed and examples are provided of Participatory Action Research in practice.

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Published

2026-01-26

How to Cite

Van Vlaenderen, H. (2026). PSYCHOLOGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. PINS-Psychology in Society, (27). https://doi.org/10.17159//2309-8708/2001/n27a9

Issue

No. 27 (2001)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Hilde Van Vlaenderen

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