Chapter 12: Multicultural and Non-Western Theories Flashcards
Four Foces in the Family of Theories
Psychodynamic, process-oriented theories that deal with the unconscious in one way or another
Behavioral and Learning Theories that emphasize how human learning is at the foundation of human experience, psychopathology and change.
Humanistic, relationship-oriented theories that believe in the human potential for change, healing, and growth - if the right circumstances and understandings are present
Multiculturalistic, which argues that people are a product of their culture and deserve to be understood foremost as such
Deral Wing Sue
Stanley Sue
David Sue
Second-Generation Chinese Brothers who have been strong voices in general multicultural theory
Allen & Mary Bradford
Also contributed to multiculturalism
Sari Dworkin & Fernando Gutierrez
First to address the diverse needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people
How Multicultural Theory Came About
Driven into being by the painful recognition that the worlview of the privileged White male was not the only viable worldview on the face of the planet; included firsthand experience of the damaging application of this narrow worldview to the psychological functioning and needs of people other than middle- and upper-class white males
Appalling Historic Examples of the Misapplication of Western Psychological Theory and Technique to non-White and nonmale populations
White, upper-class males made sweeping statements about what was good or bad for individuals from other cultures They made sweeping indictments about the so-called abnormal functioning or limited intellectual and functional potential of persons of color, as well as of women (racist)
Alice Miller
Wrote For Your Own Good where she pointed out the same dynamic from the perspective of children who were hit, kicked, slapped, and physically abused all for the sake of helping them develop properly;
According to Alice Miller, the dominant culture’s tendency to identify what’s good for nondominant groups which includes a series of oversights. These oversights are
Trying to systematically understand the perspective of the nondominant group by simply asking them for their opinion on the subject-and listening to their answers
Stepping into the alternative culture in an effort to deepen mutual understanding and respect
Considering that the nondominant group might not speak up on its own behalf for fear of reprisal
Cultural Development
Precedes individual Development;
Culture
Webs of significance that gie coherence and meaning to our lives; Social practices, institutions, family structures, and daily life make sense and hang together because of these webs of significance; culture shapes us, gives us views of hman nature, and provides our moral framework; tells us both what should be considered a good life and what should be considered deviant
Multiculturalism
Of, relating to, or designed for a combination of several distinct cultures
Cross-Cultural/Intercultural
Tend to insinuate the same set of values and concerns
Multicultural
Acknowledges the idea of culture, and by acknowledging that there is more than one viable culture, might be said to insinuate value in the existence of more than one
Political Act
The mere act of attempting to accommodate more than one culture
Derald Wing Sue’s Definition of Multicultural Counseling and Therapy
Defined as both a helping role and a process that uses modalities and defines goals consistent with the life experiences and values of clients, recognizes client identities to include individual, group, and universal dimensions, advocates the use of universal and culture-specific strategies and roles in the healing process, and balances the importance of individualism and collectivism in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of client and client systems
Multicultural Counseling and Therapy Theoretical Principles
We are born and raised in a culture (or set of cultures) that influence our ways of being (or cosmologies); politically, these memberships can either enhance or limit our life opportunities
We make distinction between groups of people based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical and mental disabilities, and socioeconomic status (group differences)
A multicultural stamce is intended to foster greater understanding between members of different cultural groups and to strive toward egalitarian treatment of all humans, inclusive of their cultural identities
Multicultural Perspective of Theories of Personality
Individual personality is heavily influenced by cultural experience; Even the idea of personality is an essentialist way of approaching human beings and is therefore a culture-bound concept; Many dimensions of intra- inter personal functioning that vary by culture; what is considered normal, acceptable, or abnormal and troublesome varies widely among cultures
Individualistic Cultures
Place enormous value on the personal liberty of the individual and the supremacy of self-interests over those of the group. Autonomy is highly regarded goal and virtue, and personality is often viewed as separate from family and culture; more likely to orient toward individual responsibility and to establish personal goals
Collectivist Cultures
Values and norms are more shared; self and personality are defined in terms of group memberships, and the group needs and values are more central than those of the individual; collectivists tend to evaluate themselves based on the attainment of commonly held group goals
Acculturation/Ethnocultural Orientation
Refers to a process of giving up one’s traditional cultural values and behavior while taking on the values and behaviors of the dominant social structure
Cultural Orientation Types within American Indian populations
Traditional Marginal Bicultural Assimilated Pantraditional
Dimensions that Vary Across Cultures
Eye contact Conception of time and timeliness Signs of respect Language Spirituality and Religion Kinship systems Directness in communication style Collectivist vs. Individual Orientation Aging Dress Gender Roles Definitions of the Good Life Educational Practices Family Definitions and Duties
Multicultural Perspective of Theories of Personality
Individual personality is heavily influenced by cultural experience; Even the idea of personality is an essentialist way of approaching human beings and is therefore a culture-bound concept; Many dimensions of intra- inter personal functioning that vary by culture; what is considered normal, acceptable, or abnormal and troublesome varies widely among cultures
Individualistic Cultures
Place enormous value on the personal liberty of the individual and the supremacy of self-interests over those of the group. Autonomy is highly regarded goal and virtue, and personality is often viewed as separate from family and culture; more likely to orient toward individual responsibility and to establish personal goals
Collectivist Cultures
Values and norms are more shared; self and personality are defined in terms of group memberships, and the group needs and values are more central than those of the individual; collectivists tend to evaluate themselves based on the attainment of commonly held group goals
Acculturation/Ethnocultural Orientation
Refers to a process of giving up one’s traditional cultural values and behavior while taking on the values and behaviors of the dominant social structure
Cultural Orientation Types within American Indian populations
Traditional Marginal Bicultural Assimilated Pantraditional
Dimensions that Vary Across Cultures
Eye contact Conception of time and timeliness Signs of respect Language Spirituality and Religion Kinship systems Directness in communication style Collectivist vs. Individual Orientation Aging Dress Gender Roles Definitions of the Good Life Educational Practices Family Definitions and Duties
Traditional
The individual thinks in the native tongue and practices traditional tribal customs and tribal worship methods.
Marginal
The individual is not fully connected with traditional Indian culture or mainstream society. Both languages may be spoken.
Contextual Factors Serving as Building Blocks for Human Behavior
Ethnocultural orientation or acculturation Family Environment Community Environment Community Style Language Usage
Assimilated
The individual is oriented toward the mainstream social culture and has little interest in traditional tribal practicies
Pantraditional
The individual has been exposed to and perhaps adopted mainstream values but has made an intentional effort to return to traditional values
Cultural Encapsulation
Unaccepting, Insensitive, or completely ignorant of cultural practices other than their own; monoculturalism is a disability that can be cured
Cultural/Racial Identity at the Individual Level
Can be unique mixtures and expressions
Multicultural Counselors
Realize that cultural identity isn’t static and that racial identity and affiliation cannot be assumed by glancing at the color of one’s skin or the shape of one’s eyes; Realize that a client’s personality can be greatly influenced by the experience of being a minority within a dominant culture
Contextual Factors Serving as Building Blocks for Human Behavior
Ethnocultural orientation or acculturation Family Environment Community Environment Community Style Language Usage
Culture-Specific Expertise
This involves acquiring knowledge about one’s own culture and about the client’s culture
Practice of Multicultural Counseling
Culture shapes the behavior, values, and beliefs of all humans; both client and counselor are products of their cultures.
Problems that minority cultures face in accessing mental health services stem both from different worldviews and cultural values and from narrow attitudes and ignorance on the part of service providers
All counseling can be regarded as multicultural when culture is defined as including not only race, ethnicity, and nationality but also gender, age, social class, sexual orientation, and disability.
People in minority groups experience life stress due to sociocultural pressures and stressors and often seek counseling due to these difficulties.
Traditional counseling still mirrors the overdeveloped western value of individualism
Cultural Encapsulation
Unaccepting, Insensitive, or completely ignorant of cultural practices other than their own; monoculturalism is a disability that can be cured
Skills Considered to be indicative of cross-cultural therapeutic competency
Scientific Mindedness
Dynamic Sizing
Culture-Specific Expertise
Scientific Mindedness
Form hypotheses about their clients rather than coming to firm and premature conclusions
Dynamic Sizing
Know when to generalize and be inclusive and when to individualize and be exclusive
Culture-Specific Expertise
This involves acquiring knowledge about one’s own culture and about the client’s culture
Wisdom
Right understanding is the perception of the world as it really is, without delusions.
Right thought involves the purification of the mind and heart and the growth of thoughts of unselfishness and compassion, which will then be the roots of actions.
Carl Jung
Believed that we achieve transcendence in finding the union of opposites
Peter Bankart
Used his extensive exposure to Japanese culture to help the reader understand some of the core differences between Japanese culture and the dominant culture in the United States
Core Value of Buddhism
Meditation, or seeking mindfulness through emptying one’s mind
Central Tenets of Buddhism
After achieving enlightenment, the Buddha taught Four Noble Truths:
All is suffering. Suffering is everywhere.
The cause of suffering is craving, desiring, or having greed.
Suffering can be stopped or eliminated.
To eliminate suffering, one must follow the Eightfold path.
Eightfold Path
Wisdom
Morality
Meditation
Wisdom
Right understanding is the perception of the world as it really is, without delusions.
Right thought involves the purification of the mind and heart and the growth of thoughts of unselfishness and compassion, which will then be the roots of actions.
Morality
Right speech means the discipline of not lying and not gossiping or not talking in any way that will encourage malice or hatred
Right action is usally expanded into the five precepts: Avoid taking life, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, and taking stimulants and intoxicants
Meditation
Right effort is the mental discipline that prevents evil arising, tries to stop evil that has arisen, and encourages what is good.
Right mindfulness involves total attention to the activities of the body, speech, and mind
Right concentration is the training of the mind in meditation stages
Core Value of Buddhism
Meditation, or seeking mindfulness through emptying one’s mind
Spiritual Psychotherapy
highly improvisational and fully accepts heterogeneity; It is not a matter of science and proof, but belief and faith
