Towards a Metatheory of the African Personality

Abstract

A metatheory is one way of organizing theories on a given subject in a coherent conceptual framework. The theories usually are separate, distinct, and sometimes disparate. Organization of the given field is thereby achieved. This article specifies the minimum requisites that are necessary for a metatheory of the African (Black) personality construct. Through application of the metatheory idea, it is argued that an African persondality metatheory must at least explain the nature of the spiritual essence underlying human personality, how this spiritual essence impacts on the psychological functioning of African people, the interplay between the spiritual, mental, and physical dimensions of the human being, and how this interplay impacts African psychological functioning. This position is taken based upon an analysis of recent theorization about the African personality.