Infusing Black Psychology into the Introductory Psychology Course

Students in the introductory psychology course should learn about the impact of social, economic, and cultural factors on psychological development. This goal can be accomplished by infusing Black psychology into the course. Many instructors could benefit from a model for presenting this approach, which can be applied to a variety of topic areas, such as the psychology of women, the disabled, and other disenfranchised groups. Infusing material on race and culture legitimizes these subjects as relevant areas of investigation for psychologists and permits instructors to make connections among the various units presented during the semester. A definition of Black psychology, a lecture outline, suggestions for infusing Black psychology into the entire course, small-group activities, and curriculum resources are presented. Student reactions to the presentation of this material are also discussed.