Locating Mental Health in Black and White Men: A Q-methodological Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Historically, skin color ('race') has been linked to the concept of the 'Other' in Western culture.
• In psychologized, post-colonial contexts, projections onto the 'Other' have evolved.
• This study examines the evolving representation of racialized identities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the manifestation of racialized representations in psychologized, post-colonial culture.
• To analyze the construction of the white man as an ideal, contained subject.
• To investigate the representation of the black man as externally constituted.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Q-analysis, a mathematical technique for studying subjective viewpoints.
• Analyzed the discourse surrounding racialized representations.
• Examined the dichotomy between self-contained and externally-defined identities.

Main Results:

• Identified a representation of the white man as an ideal, contained, thinking subject.
• Revealed a contrasting representation of the black man as constituted by external relationships.
• Demonstrated the duality in racialized self-perception.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a significant duality in the psychological and social construction of racial identity.
• These findings have implications for understanding the mental health of both black and white men.
• The research underscores the impact of cultural projections on self-concept and well-being.