A psycho-philosophical exploration to facilitate better uderstanding of offending related factors within a traditional Southern African context
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Authors
Prinsloo, Johan
Ovens, Michelle
Issue Date
2011
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
African traditional philosophy , Offending behaviour , Psychoogical metasystems , Social learning
Alternative Title
Abstract
This article reflects upon notions of an African paradigm, as well as the ideals on which
social and normative interaction and principles can be based in contemporary society. It
is argued that Western and African perspectives have different epistemological and
ontological points of departure. However, contemporary African society has developed
into its current form through the advent of Western thought and should therefore be
understood within a framework and awareness of the conflicting nature of the two ideas
of Western and African knowledge systems. This provides a basis for African
perspectives to be examined and extrapolated in co-existence with existing theories.
Due to limited criminological theories from a predominantly African perspective, known
psychological theories and premises are reflected upon to arrive at a better
understanding of the factors that are relative to offending behaviour within an African
context.