Decolonial research practices from an indigenous psychology perspective: Critical contributions to knowledge
Girishwar Misra1, Louise Sundararajan, Thomas Teo2
1Department of Contemplative and Behavioural Science, Sri Sri University.
The American Psychologist
|December 11, 2025
Summary
Indigenous psychology (IP) challenges Western dominance in mental health research, advocating for culturally relevant theories and practices. This decolonial approach promotes inclusivity and equity by embracing diverse worldviews and research methods.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Mainstream psychology is critiqued for colonial legacies and Western-centric biases.
- Indigenous psychology (IP) advocates for locally developed theories and practices.
- Decolonial psychology emphasizes challenging Western hegemony and promoting inclusivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the connection between Indigenous psychology (IP) and decolonial psychology.
- To advocate for contextually rich, relational paradigms based on reflexivity.
- To promote broader epistemic and substantive perspectives in psychology.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of the nexus between IP and decolonial psychology.
- Critique of Euro-American methodologism in psychology.
- Application of Bourdieu's critical sociology and strong-ties/weak-ties rationalities.
Main Results:
- Illustrations from IP-informed research demonstrate concrete knowledge outcomes.
- The theory of strong-ties and weak-ties rationalities explains ecological grief among an Indigenous Malaysian group.
- The Chinese concept of 'xin' (heart) illustrates the entanglement of decolonization and IP.
Conclusions:
- Decolonizing psychology requires challenging Western hegemony and embracing ontological and cultural diversity.
- IP and decolonial psychology offer pathways toward a more equitable and inclusive field.
- Concrete suggestions are provided for decolonizing psychological research and practice.
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