What concept in Frantz Fanon’s political thought emphasizes the psychological impact of colonialism on the colonized individual ?

Correct option is C

Frantz Fanon (1925–1961), a psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary, explored the profound psychological and social effects of colonialism in his works, particularly in "Black Skin, White Masks" (1952) and "The Wretched of the Earth" (1961). His analysis focuses on how colonialism not only exploits and oppresses colonized people economically and politically but also deeply affects their psyche and sense of identity.

Key Aspects of Alienation and Dehumanization:

Psychological Trauma: Fanon argued that colonialism imposes a sense of inferiority and self-hatred on the colonized. This is achieved through the internalization of racist ideologies and the erasure of indigenous cultures and identities.
Alienation from Self: Colonized individuals are alienated from their own culture, history, and identity, as they are forced to adopt the values and norms of the colonizer. This leads to a fractured sense of self.
Dehumanization: Colonialism reduces the colonized to subhuman status, denying them their humanity and dignity. Fanon emphasized that this dehumanization is a deliberate tool of colonial domination.
Path to Liberation: Fanon believed that overcoming this psychological oppression required a collective struggle for liberation, both mental and physical. He argued that violence, in the context of anti-colonial resistance, could be a cathartic and unifying force for the colonized.

Information booster :

(A) Economic Determinism: While Fanon acknowledged the economic exploitation inherent in colonialism, his focus was on the psychological and cultural dimensions of oppression, not solely on economic factors.
(B) Cultural Relativism: Fanon did not advocate for cultural relativism. Instead, he critiqued the imposition of colonial culture and the erasure of indigenous identities.
(D) Historical Materialism: Although Fanon was influenced by Marxist ideas, his work diverged from classical historical materialism by emphasizing the psychological and cultural aspects of colonialism rather than focusing exclusively on economic structures.