Article contents
The Psychology of Consensus in Melanesia
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 February 2012
Abstract
Consensus is an essential ingredient for conflict resolution, reconciliation, agreement, and peace in Melanesian societies. The psychological aspects of its positive influence in establishing a common ground between conflicting parties have not been explored. From a psycho-cultural perspective, I focus on the positive dynamism of consensus. I provide the Bougainville crisis within Papua New Guinea as a case vignette to illustrate the utility and significance of consensus in the search for concrete principles to unite a ‘disoriented’ world. In doing so, the issue of incorporating indigenous psychological knowledge into mainstream psychology becomes clearer. The article searches for psychological principles germane to reducing conflict and maintaining peace. This kind of utility is exemplified in a case study of achieving consensus in Papua New Guinea.
- Type
- Articles and Discussions
- Information
- Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology , Volume 1 , Issue 2: Special Issue: Part 1 in a Series of Special Articles , 01 September 2007 , pp. 54 - 57
- Copyright
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007
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