Psy 535 - When Cultures Know Better; Cultures Do Better

When cultures know better; cultures do better

Shamona L. Shields

PSY/535

October 29, 2012

Dr. Patricia Perez

When cultures know better; cultures do better

The rapid change of worldviews in communities effects how professionals assess the individuals within the community. It is not enough for professionals to conduct basic assessments on how an individual maneuvers through life, his type of thought process, and his level of emotions toward his daily life issues. The rapid changes in communities consist of a change in people and cultures. Multicultural psychology is the assessment of multiple advantages and drawbacks of multiple cultures in one aspect or another. It assesses how the community act and react to positive/negative influences. Multicultural psychology assesses the entire community; however, the focus is toward a distinguished culture in the community to assess (Hall, Chapter 1, 2010).

Society has to understand the simplicity of psychology to understand the complexity of multicultural psychology. Communities without an understanding assume other cultures are the same (monoculture) and are ignorant of multicultural. It is not enough to assume that cultures are the same. To gain knowledge and be at a level of required competency professionals should research rigorously cultures and not assume that the outcome applies to all (Hall, Chapter 1, 2010). Without multicultural competency there is room for personal bias, perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs. It also leaves communities afraid to explore things outside their culture, which produces limitations.

Individual Beliefs

Dual diagnose case manager is a former profession. Prior to working as a dual diagnose case manager; from a personal perspective the world of substance abuse was not relevant. I did not understand the life of a substance abuser (out-group) and was favorable of the professional lifestyle (in-group). Until I became a case manager, I had little to no contact with substance abusers. My profession increased my contact with substance abusers. Case Management allowed me to learn more about how and why they became abusers, which provided an understanding of the abuser world (culture); with understanding came empathy. I also discontinued viewing and categorizing abusers as a group and viewed them as individuals. My perception of substance abusers (different cultures) is it will continue to be a problem. Substance abuse is unstoppable as long as there are liquor stores, doctors writing prescriptions, drug dealers, and vulnerable individuals. I developed a cautious approach toward substance abusers because I thought they were not interested in living a productive life, so there was no need to concern myself or take interest in their lives. Passing judgment and stereotyping was easy because I was not aware of my behavior ("American Psychological Association," 2002).

Second Guessing

I find it difficult to interact with individuals culturally different from me. I do not get close to others outside my immediate family. I believe individuals other than my family have a hidden agenda. I have found that people want only to use others for personal gain. I will agree, culturally different individuals have many things to offer, however I also believe they have many things to