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Ethnocentrism as a Form of Intuition in Psychology

York Universitytteo{at}yorku.ca

Angela R. Febbraro

Defence R&D Canada–TorontoAngela.Febbraro{at}drdc-rddc.gc.ca

Ethnocentrism is conceptualized as a basic Kantian form of intuition that plays aknowledge-producing role. Although all cultures have developed their particular forms of intuition, the focus of this analysis is on Western ethnocentrism, which is discussed in four psychological manifestations. The most explicit expression of Western ethnocentrism in academia is scientific racism, which has been an important research program in the history of the science of mental life. Another manifestation of ethnocentrism as a form of intuition in Western psychology is researchers’ prejudices, which play a significant role in the context of discovery. Besides these two explicit manifestations of ethnocentrism, a hidden one is analyzed, which expresses itself in terms of exclusion or disregard of non-Western views, or in their assimilation without a reconceptualization of mental life. In this type of ethnocentrism it is assumed that Western psychological conceptualizations are superior. Finally, a fourth manifestation is discussed, which expresses itself in the institutional practices of academia, such as hiring, publishing and teaching.

Key Words: culture • epistemology • ethnocentrism • prejudice • scientific racism

Theory & Psychology, Vol. 13, No. 5, 673-694 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/09593543030135009


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