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. Psychology's response to social and political issues confronting indigenous people in Australia and their constructions of psychology are offered as examples.