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Mental Disease in Africans: Racial Determinism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

H. J. Simons*
Affiliation:
School of African Studies, University of Cape Town

Extract

There has grown up in the past 30 years in East Africa a school of medical psychologists which sets out to interpret African thought processes, personality traits and mental disorders in terms of a racially genetic and cultural disposition. A correlation is assumed or suggested between a specific brain structure, social behaviour, psychology and psycho-pathology. Explanations are couched in terms of a racial determinism, and involve an assertion of inferiority as compared with the White race.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1958 

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