Decolonial psychology in a zone of proximal development: From Monism to Pluralism
Sullivan, Paul W. Ackroyd, John
Sullivan, Paul W.
Ackroyd, John
Publication Date
2025-07
End of Embargo
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This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in 'Decolonial psychology and dialogues of resistance: Addressing processes of subjectification in local realities' on 11 July 2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003439103.
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
embargoedAccess
Accepted for publication
2025-05-16
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Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
2027-01-11
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Abstract
The ethical commitments of decolonial psychology are not well articulated. In this chapter, we consider the dialogue between values and knowledge, with a focus on different moral perspectives – universalism, relativism, and pluralism in decolonial psychology. This discussion is necessary if we are to disentangle different versions of decolonial psychology from another and even more necessary if we are to understand the role of outside cultures in engaging colonially with other cultures. A plurality of moral worlds means that outsideness is engaged with a continuum of (dis)comfort from within a variety of zones of proximal development. This chapter will interpret these zones as axiological in nature and outline the skills involved in mastering them. These skills include the mastery of a singular voice, the skill of imagination, and the skill to maintain an authorial center amidst plurality. Drawing on the work of Vygotsky and Bakhtin, we will discuss the acquisition of these skills within decolonial psychology – as an anchor to start considering decolonial psychology as a set of moral commitments and skills to be mastered.
Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
Sullivan P, Ackroyd J and Intezar H (2025) Decolonial psychology in a zone of proximal development: From Monism to Pluralism. In: Cresswell J, Tajima A and Ferreira AAL (Eds.) Decolonial psychology and dialogues of resistance: Addressing processes of subjectification in local realities. Routledge.
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Type
Book chapter
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Notes
The full-text of this article will be released for public view at the end of the publisher embargo on 11 Jan 2027.