ABSTRACT
Indigenous psychologies have developed throughout the world to address the political, economic, religious, and social needs of individuals and the cultures to which they belong. Although indigenous psychologies are influenced by international psychology, it is essential to understand the role they play in addressing the specific needs of a particular country and/or culture. This chapter focuses on the nature of indigenous psychologies throughout selected nations and regions that represent the population engines of the world and are continuing to emerge as dominant forces on the global stage. It discusses the historical and state of formal governmental and educational institutions and to the impact of social needs of the nation and culture(s) upon the field of psychology. The chapter describes the relationship between international and indigenous psychologies. It identifies both distinctive and similar features of psychology in Latin America, South Africa, India, and Asia. The chapter examines the impact of unique political, economic, academic, and social factors on each indigenous psychology.
