Psychological Principles and the Black Experience

This book demonstrates how the basic body of knowledge in psychology can be applied to the experiences and behavior of blacks, as differentiated from those of whites. The author begins with a brief description of African culture, discusses the slave trade, and presents a sketch of the initial experiences of other ethnic groups in the United States. Following a discussion of black psychology and black psychologists, the author analyzes and relates specifically to the black experience such precepts as learning theories, perception, intelligence, frustration/adjustment, and personality. Includes discussion on criminal behavior, substance abuse, suicide and mental illness from a black perspective. The author concludes with an exploration of the factors that must be considered if psychological intervention with black patients and clients is to be effective. Contents: A Brief Look at the Past; Black Psychology and Black Psychologists; Learning and Conditioning; Perception and Consciousness; Black Intellectual Ability; Frustration and Adjustment; Personality; Socially Deviant and Socially Destructive Behavior; Mental Disorders; and Helping Troubled Blacks.