Graham Davidson

Australian psychology and Australia's indigenous people: Existing and emerging narratives

This brief overview of psychological research with Indigenous people of Australia attempts to apprehend the broad, underlying narratives of previous research in terms of its sociopolitical aims. It then considers the debate about whether the moral precept of social responsibility is compatible with scientific values that underpin psychological research, and argues that a socially responsible psychology is one that engages in self-reflection on its biases and prejudices, methodologies, and systems of ethics. Each of these self-reflective goals is analysed in turn, with a view to establishing dialogue between non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners and Indigenous people about the role a socially responsible psychology might have in contemporary Indigenous society.

Survey of Ethics Education in Australian University Schools and Departments of Psychology

In 2000 the Ethics Committee of the APS conducted a survey of ethics education and training in all Australian University Psychology Academic Organisational Units (AOUs). Content analysis of course syllabi received directly from AOUs and/or obtained from accreditation documentation lodged by them with the APS as part of the 5-year APS course accreditation cycle showed that ethics education appeared in less that one quarter of syllabi for years 1–3 and approximately 90% of syllabi for years 4 and 5–7, with a clear emphasis on the integrative approach in years 1–3 and roughly equal emphasis on integration within or separation from the core curriculum in years 4 and 5–7, and with roughly equal emphasis on philosophical and code-based instruction in years 1–3, but mainly the latter instruction in years 4 and 5–7. Research ethics constituted the predominant theme in years 1–3; a comprehensive listing of professional topics was covered in years 4 and 5–7, with few thematic differences between these year levels. ...

Cognitive Assessment of Indigenous Australians: Towards a Multiaxial Model

The paper proposes a multiaxial model of cognitive assessment applicable to the assessment of indigenous Australians. In doing so it draws on perspectives from indigenous and everyday theories of intelligence, advances in cognitive psychology, and multiaxial models of mental assessment.

The Australian Psychological Society and Australia's indigenous people: A decade of action

This paper highlights the achievements of the past decade, together with the shortcomings and future needs, of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) in addressing its social and professional responsibilities towards Australias Indigenous peoples. A selective chronology of events and initiatives since the 1988 International Congress in Psychology in Sydney is presented and critically examined. Reference is made to parallel national and international developments by Indigenous peoples in reclaiming direction, control, and appropriate partnership in their own mental health issues. The establishment of the APS Interest Group on Aboriginal Issues, Aboriginal People and Psychology represents one such partnership. While psychologys response to the reflection and reconciliation processes underway in Australian society in recent years might be described as sluggish, the accomplishments of the last decade provide a solid foundation for the development of culturally inclusive systems of education, training, and professional service delivery.

THE IMPACT OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF AT-FAULT DRIVERS AND RELATED PASSENGERS

This study assessed the effects of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) on drivers’ and passengers’ responsibility attribution, and levels of psychological distress and well-being. A total of 321 MVA victims from the state of Queensland, Australia, participated in this study by responding to a questionnaire designed to measure the studys critical variables. Of the sample, 221 were drivers (99 males, 122 females) and 100 were passengers (31 males, 69 females). Of the passengers, 47 percent reported that they were related to the driver, while 53 percent reported that they were not related to the driver. The drivers were categorized by their attribution of responsibility for their accidents, with a resultant 20 percent perceiving themselves to be at fault, and 80 percent perceiving themselves not to be at fault. Results obtained from MANOVAs showed that there was a significant decrease in reported well-being for both passenger- and driver-victims following their accidents. For drivers, the decrease was significantly greater for those who did not accept responsibility for their accidents than those who did. Path analysis showed that blaming others for the accident was associated with higher levels of psychological distress and a lower level of psychological well-being (PWB) for both passengers and drivers. For drivers, accepting responsibility for the accident was associated with lower levels of psychological distress and a higher level of PWB. Implications for the development of coping strategies for MVA victims are discussed.

Motives for the adoption of protective health behaviours for men and women: an evaluation of the psychosocial-appraisal health model.

The present study has been designed to: (1) evaluate the adequacy of a psychosocial-appraisal health model posited to explain the decision-making processes associated with the intention as well as the (non)practice of protective behaviours; and (2) test for sex differences in the hypothesized structural relations (both direct and indirect) between the model’s exogenous (psychosocial) and endogenous (cognitive appraisal) factors in representing the way health decisions are made. Results obtained from path analysis (N = 1269) provided overall support for the ‘fit’ of the hypothesized health model. The implications of the findings with regard to differences in male and female health status are discussed.

Factors Affecting Acceptance of Aboriginal Reconciliation Amongst Non‐Indigenous Australians

Non-Indigenous Australians (n = 282) drawn from high school, Tafe, and university completed a questionnaire measuring levels of ingroup identification; judgements about the legitimacy, stability, and flexibility of Indigenous peoples social position; perceived threats of reconciliation to their personal security and social acceptance; and support for the general aims, specific objectives, and overall work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. Results of the descriptive analysis suggested that respondents were mainly supportive of the reconciliation process. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the latent factors in the path model, which were drawn from social identity theory and the Councils aims and objectives, were reliably represented by the measurement variables. Path analysis using structural equation modelling indicated that level of ingroup identification reliably predicted judgements about group positioning, which subsequently predicted support for the Councils specific objectives and work overall. Endorsement of the Councils general aims and perceived low self-threat did not translate into support for the Councils specific objectives and overall work. The implications for promotion of reconciliation amongst non-Indigenous Australians are discussed.

How xenophobic is Australian psychology? A comment on the education and training of Australian psychologists

Abstract The article draws attention to a lack of regard in Australian psychology for knowledge about the cultural context of psychological practice and for attendant skills which might be expected of psychologists in a multicultural society. Specific knowledge perspectives and applications provided by cultural and cross-cultural psychology are surveyed with a view to incorporating these in psychology curricula and continuing professional education.

In pursuit of social responsibility in psychology: A comment on butler (1998)

Abstract The sociohistorical construction of biological determinism that has been offered by Butler (1998) is supported. I argue, however, that social responsibility involves both an acknowledgment of the values underpinning psychological research and practice, and a commitment to lawful social and political action. I argue, furthermore, that the paradigm shift proposed by Butler might not necessarily accommodate other cultural constructions of psychological research and of its social value. Psychologys response to social and political issues confronting indigenous people in Australia and their constructions of psychology are offered as examples.

The ethics of confidentiality: introduction.

This essay aims to briefly summarise the collection of articles on confidentiality issues in psychology, and to highlight apparently conflicting opinions about the confidentiality rule. Conflicts are then analysed in terms of competing systems of ethics. Finally, the role for ethics education in psychology education and training is considered.