What distinguishes the various African psychological orientations shown in Figure 1 (Section 82) from each other is the manner in which two central ideas – Africa and psychology – are apprehended in each of them, although the way in which the two ideas are approached often remains implicit. The most significant element present in all of them, however, is that we, psychologists and students of psychology, are always situated, unconsciously or after deliberation. The four African psychologies can therefore be considered as ways in which actors are positioned in relation to Africa as an object of study, to psychology's place in Africa, to Africa as a place of knowledgemaking, as well as to their own being, social relations, perspectives and expertise. The crucial point is that orientation, or situatedness – that is, the way clinicians, counsellors, teachers of psychology and researchers are positioned or position themselves – has an effect on psychotherapy, counselling, teaching and research.

The different African psychological orientations presented in Figure 1 are not meant to correspond to the established branches or areas of psychology such as critical psychology, cultural psychology, cross-cultural psychology, political psychology, economic psychology, or indigenous psychology. They are also not meant to correspond to established subdisciplines of psychology such as general, cognitive, developmental, personality, community and social psychology; nor to the categories of professional registration such as clinical, counselling, industrial, educational, research, neuropsychology and forensic psychology; nor to the divisions of the professional associations of psychologists. Instead, these different African psychological orientations are, in my assessment, found within the areas of work, within sub-disciplines, within registration categories, and within the divisions of the professional association. In South Africa, some areas of work, sub-disciplines, registration categories and divisions will evidence more debates on African psychology than others, simply because of the numbers involved.

It is worth noting that African psychology teachers, researchers and psychotherapists can and do move across these different orientations. The boundaries between the four psychologies are permeable. It is likely that individual psychologists will at different points in time orient themselves in one way or another with regard to Africa and psychology.