IKC101 Journal Entry: Psychology and Indigenous Australians

This journal entry reflects on the first chapter of "Psychology and Indigenous Australians: Foundations of Cultural Competence." The author explores the concept of cultural competence, contrasting the worldviews of Indigenous Australians and colonizers. The entry examines the role of cultural competence in the success of colonization, highlighting how the colonizers' superior worldview and scientific knowledge enabled them to manipulate and control Indigenous populations. The author also discusses the evolution of culture, the impact of scientific knowledge, and the importance of cultural competence in evaluating welfare schemes for Indigenous Australians, concluding that sustainable development necessitates a focus on enhancing cultural competence rather than merely providing aid. The journal entry provides a critical analysis of the themes presented in the book and applies them to the context of Indigenous Australian history and contemporary realities.

Journal Entry
The reading notes from chapter one of the book "Psychology and Indigenous
Australians: foundations of cultural competence”.
The study of chapter one of this book" Psychology and Indigenous Australians: foundations
of cultural competence" helped me in establishing a position for myself in the field of cultural
competence. I realized that I am exposed to books, the internet, and other mediums to know
more about other cultures. The first chapter of this book first introduced me to a new term,
which was "worldly view." Specialized subjects like History, science, and sociology allows
us to explore other cultures from an objective point of view. However, the understanding of
the other culture is dependent on the fact that how well we know our own culture (Rob
Ranzijn, 2009, pp. 4-5).
The author trio tried to comprehend the concept of cultural competence by comparing the
world view of aboriginal people and the forces that were planning to colonize them. The
cultural competence came out as the distinctive feature in the past. This observation made by
the authors forced me to think on the lines that can we consider cultural competence as the
major reason behind the backwardness of the aboriginal people. This chapter also talked
about the evolution of the culture with a passage of time.
I tried to comprehend the evolution of culture in three steps, first, any habit or practice
becomes a way of life, then masses accept it as the best practice and finally, the best practice
becomes a culture in the social periphery. The advent of colonization in Australia can be
studied under the same framework. The colonizing powers were always in minorities,
however, most of them went for social engineering where science and liberal approach
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associated with the philosophy of life helped them a great deal in changing the culture. The
first conclusion that we can draw from this chapter clearly says that colonial powers met with
success because of their cultural competence (Rob Ranzijn, 2009, pp. 7-9)a. The
representatives of the colonial powers were enjoying a better world view and this is why they
were able to understand and manipulate aboriginal people. We often remember colonization
because of the sinister commercial interests of the colonizing power. We often talk about
their existence as a stronger military force of that era.
However, it is no the military force, it is the superior cultural competence of the colonizing
powers that helped them in raising an empire and sustain with it for prolonged periods. The
role of scientific knowledge cannot be denied in the formation of cultural competence. In the
case of Australian aboriginals, we can see that Europeans presented simple principles of
science as a miracle. Scientific knowledge became a cultural competence for them.
The complete study of the chapter forced me to think about the welfare schemes that we are
running for the aboriginals in Australia. After reading this insightful chapter, in the future
whenever I will adjudge any such scheme, the role of cultural competence will be criteria for
me to understand the worth of the same. On the lines of a premature conclusion, I can also
say that if the help or the privileged offered by the Australian government or any other body
is not increasing the cultural competence then it is not about sustainable development of the
community. It is only a work of charity to meet their daily needs.
Bibliography
Rob Ranzijn, K. M. (2009). Psychology and Indigenous Australians: Foundations of Cultural
Competence. New York: Palgrave McMillan.
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