The Role of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology in the APA’s Apology to People of Color

by | May 29, 2024 | Psychology

In service of apologies, not apologists.

Your final letter will be ADDRESSED TO ME AS YOUR PROFESSOR of this history of psychology course. It is a bit different. Specifically, after reading the APA’s Psychology and the Belief in Racial Hierarchy: A Chronology (2021b; compiled by the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, at the behest of the APA) and Apology to People of Color (APA, 2021a) … (in THIS order), you will:

Reflect upon the role the CCHP played in the APA’s formal apology to people of color. Let your thoughts go free, and do not feel compelled to focus on just the positive or negative.
Consolidate your reflections by finding and submitting an image that best captures/symbolizes/reflects these thoughts (or at least their most significant aspects, according to you!). This image may or may not be historically based. It does NOT have to come the sources listed on the Course Resource page.
In a letter addressed to me, submit the image along with one paragraph describing what, why, and how this image illustrates your thoughts on the role these historians played in the creation and presentation of this public apology.
In a concluding paragraph, explore whether and how these histories of psychology/Psychology (content and/or process) feel alive/present in YOUR experience of Psychology. Finally, provide a brief reflection on the degree to which your experiences and thoughts align with one or two (or none) of the functions of history highlighted by the syllabus quotes that started off the quarter: handmaid OR science of remedies.
Include reference page for all sources used (including image).

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

The Role of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology in the APA’s Apology to People of Color

In the journey towards reconciliation and acknowledgment of past wrongs, the role of historical documentation and reflection cannot be understated. The Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP) played a crucial role in the American Psychological Association’s (APA) formal apology to people of color by providing a comprehensive chronology of psychology’s belief in racial hierarchy. Through their meticulous curation of historical evidence, the CCHP shed light on the systemic biases and discriminatory practices that have permeated the field of psychology. This act of historical excavation was instrumental in prompting the APA to confront its past transgressions and issue a public apology to people of color. The CCHP’s dedication to uncovering uncomfortable truths and presenting them unflinchingly paved the way for a more honest and reflective dialogue within the field of psychology.

In considering the impact of the CCHP’s work on the APA’s apology, the image that comes to mind is that of a mirror reflecting the stark realities of history. This image symbolizes the role of historical introspection in confronting uncomfortable truths and acknowledging the deep-seated biases that have shaped the field of psychology. Just as a mirror forces us to confront our own reflections, the work of the CCHP compelled the APA to confront its past failings and strive towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

In my personal experience of psychology, these histories of discrimination and bias feel undeniably present. As a student in the field, I am acutely aware of the legacy of racial hierarchy and discrimination that continues to influence psychological theory and practice. The revelations brought to light by the CCHP serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of critically examining our assumptions and biases in order to create a more just and equitable discipline. In reflecting on the functions of history highlighted in the course syllabus, I find that my experiences align more closely with the concept of history as a science of remedies. By acknowledging and learning from the mistakes of the past, we can actively work towards addressing systemic injustices and fostering a more inclusive and socially responsible practice of psychology.

Reference Page:

American Psychological Association. (2021a). Apology to People of Color. https://www.apa.org/apology

American Psychological Association. (2021b). Psychology and the Belief in Racial Hierarchy: A Chronology. Cummings Center for the History of Psychology.

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