The impact of colonial culture in South Africa and Zimbabwe on identity development

Abstract

This study investigated how colonial culture impacted on the identity formation of seven individuals from southern Africa. Iographies focussed on factors participants believed impacted on their identity. Results indicated that: (1) participants were forced into a particular racial/cultural identity because of colonialism; (2) separation of individuals on racial lines prevented a collective anti-colonial/oppression identity from evolving; (3) participants experienced a sense of limited worthiness and/or of being more worthy than others because of their race; (4) participants' identities included an anti-colonial component; (5) white individuals who did not wish to participate in the colonial system were considered by some whites as unworthy and were mistrusted by some nonwhites; (6) participants' identity shifted over time. Implications for counselling are provided.

Keywords: apartheid, Bulhan's developmental stages, counselling, psychological experiences, race, southern Africa

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2005, 15(1): 41–51