Mr President, psychology is not as useless
Aug 26, 2008
EDITOR—President Museveni first criticised psychology in 2006 and once again he criticised the discipline during a talk to students at the Uganda Manufacturers Association grounds on August 23.
EDITOR—President Museveni first criticised psychology in 2006 and once again he criticised the discipline during a talk to students at the Uganda Manufacturers Association grounds on August 23.
As a person with great interest in psychology, it hurts me a lot when people make uninformed and generalised statements about the discipline. As a former student of organisational psychology, I know that psychologists can contribute enormously to national development and economic growth. for example, consumer psychologists do a great job in consumer research.
A company once introduced BB soda sold in a beer bottle and it did not sell. this is because the company did not use the services of a consumer psychologist.
they ignored culture and religion! how could devout
Muslims drink soda from a beer bottle? Consumer psychologists use elements of emotional intensity in advertising. Local television advertisements leave a lot to be desired simply because they are ignorant about what consumer psychologists could do for them. There would not be cases of special police constables shooting innocent civilians if the Uganda Police and the army used personality, aptitude and intelligence tests during the recruitment process. Some policemen could be mentally disturbed! Community psychologists have also played a big role in uganda’s deprived communities such as the northern region.
Unlike Uganda, developed countries like japan apply the motivation theory, ‘Theory Z’ in their industries whereby they ensure proper management of resources, especially people.
Here they exert a high degree of mutual trust and loyalty between management and employees. Decision making is shared at all levels and performance appraisal is long-term. Therefore the government should support psychology as an important discipline in universities instead of criticising it.
Richard Mukasa
Kampala
As a person with great interest in psychology, it hurts me a lot when people make uninformed and generalised statements about the discipline. As a former student of organisational psychology, I know that psychologists can contribute enormously to national development and economic growth. for example, consumer psychologists do a great job in consumer research.
A company once introduced BB soda sold in a beer bottle and it did not sell. this is because the company did not use the services of a consumer psychologist.
they ignored culture and religion! how could devout
Muslims drink soda from a beer bottle? Consumer psychologists use elements of emotional intensity in advertising. Local television advertisements leave a lot to be desired simply because they are ignorant about what consumer psychologists could do for them. There would not be cases of special police constables shooting innocent civilians if the Uganda Police and the army used personality, aptitude and intelligence tests during the recruitment process. Some policemen could be mentally disturbed! Community psychologists have also played a big role in uganda’s deprived communities such as the northern region.
Unlike Uganda, developed countries like japan apply the motivation theory, ‘Theory Z’ in their industries whereby they ensure proper management of resources, especially people.
Here they exert a high degree of mutual trust and loyalty between management and employees. Decision making is shared at all levels and performance appraisal is long-term. Therefore the government should support psychology as an important discipline in universities instead of criticising it.
Richard Mukasa
Kampala