Psychology and the Developing World

Carr, Stuart C., and John F. Schumaker. (eds.), Psychology and the Developing World. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1996. 236 pp.

In the Third World, psychology is situated on the periphery of mainstream social science. While disciplines such as economics, demography, or political science are regarded by host governments or donor agencies as vital for national development, psychology typically goes unnoticed. Psychology is grossly underrepresented in academic area studies, and few psychologists are active in international associations such as ASA, MESA, LASA, or even the Association of Third World Studies. Donor agencies do not sponsor psychologists' efforts overseas. Psychology is taught at about half the universities in developing countries, but it is included as much to balance the curriculum as it is for its perceived relevance.

Psychology and the Developing World is intended for a much broader readership than psychologists. Professionals in any branch of interdisciplinary developmental studies should read this volume. Arcane psychological jargon was minimized and it was explained clearly in rare instances when used.

The chapters' shared theme is that psychology is an academic subject with relevance to national development. The book's general introduction is followed by seventeen brief chapters that average a dozen pages each. The chapters are grouped topically under four headings as follows: conceptual foundations, educational/child developmental psychology, social/organizational psychology, and health/welfare psychology. Most authors are presently based at universities in developed western regions such as Australia, North America, or Europe, but it was clear from their narratives that they have had extensive employment or research experience in Third World countries. Editors Carr and Schumaker worked for prolonged intervals at universities in Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa. For chapters written outside the Third World, authors acknowledged prepublication review comments supplied by indigenous colleagues who remain at Third World campuses.

The scholarly standard was high, and each chapter was supported by many recent and relevant citations. Five chapters were especially noteworthy and will be described below. These chapters confirm that the book holds wide appeal to those who work in international development.

Social psychology: The most impressive chapter was by editor Stuart Carr on the social psychology of aid management. Its topic of aid is a core issue in developmental studies. The paper explained complex behavior in terms of highly confirmed social psychological principles. These principles are abstract and difficult, yet through Can's explanations they were clarified and applied appropriately to the distribution of international aid. Carr presented, compared, and analyzed divergent perspectives on development aid or poverty. These perspectives included those of: the taxpaying public in donor countries, donor bureaucrats in host countries, expatriate aid workers, and the grassroots recipients. Social psychology is helpful in understanding apparent contradictions among these various perspectives. This chapter also worked through the complexities of expatriate/host pay inequities, explaining psychologically why these inequalities reduce, by different psychological mechanisms, work motivation among all parties concerned.

Street children: Max Taylor analyzed the psychosocial circumstances of street children, who occupy markets or other public locations throughout the Third World. Four distinct categories of street children were identified: those living risky lives, those on the street temporarily, those who identify the street as their home, and those who are truly abandoned. Street life poses dangers regardless of the child's status.

Marketing psychology: Consumer behavior has been largely ignored by academic psychologists, yet buying decisions are important in the business world. Robert Rugimbana's paper focused on decision making in the informal (underground) market sector, which in many developing countries is the largest unit of the national economy. Buyers' decisions are not made simplistically on self-interest alone; Third World societies are collectivistic in orientation, so these decisions are moderated by the "pluralistic self." Community solidarity, informal price cartels, loyalty to in-groups, and generosity are valued over selfpromotion or cutthroat competitiveness.

Malnutrition: Patrice Engle's chapter reviewed the psychosocial factors relating to various categories of malnutrition, a main target of developmental assistance. The paper detailed the difficulties encountered by researchers who try to identify specific outcomes of malnutrition. These issues must be approached indirectly because ethical guidelines strictly prevent experimentation in situations where manipulation of treatment factors may harm children who serve as subjects.

Children caught in civil war: Alastair Ager reported about dislocated children who are entrapped and traumatized by civil war. Most of these children suffer as a result of their vulnerabilities, while some are strengthened by their personal resilience. Evacuation to safe haven is stressful for victimized children who become separated from their support networks, so evacuation is at best a partial solution.