Culture and Mental Health

Why is multiculturalism good?or

The hidden assumptions about mental health and its treatment

In this lecture…

1. The limitations of the DSM

2. An alternative approach

3. Cultural Competence

• should we focus on race, class, and culture in therapy?

• therapist ideology and its implications for psychotherapy

• a multicultural orientation

The assumptions of the DSM

Four basic psychological paradigms

Psychodynamic Cognitive-Behavioral Humanistic Biological

What assumptions do they share about the etiology of abnormal behavior and mental health problems?

The assumptions of the DSM (cont.)

Assumption 1: The problem is in the person (or family)

Assumption 2: The appropriate intervention is to treat the person (or his/her family)

Why might this be problematic?

Four steps to “blaming the victim”

1. Identify a social problem

2. Study those affected by the problem to discover how they are different from those who are not affected by the problem.

3. Define the difference as the cause of the problem itself

4. Create a humanitarian action (social service) program to correct the differences (from #2)

William Ryan 1971, 1976

Therapeutic implications of “blaming the victim”

Implication 1: Environmental factors are often ignored or minimized in assessment and treatment

Implication 2: Some individuals are more likely to be negative affected by implication 1 than others

Who is likely to be disproportionally affected?

Urie Bronfenbrenner

Alternative Approach:

Attend to environmental aspects in both assessment and intervention

Often misrepresented

Urie Bronfenbrenner

The original model

Ecology from Ecos: House (Greek)

Ecology: A House in Biological Terms - A system of interacting organisms

Therapeutic implications of ecological model

Psychopathology, even individual psychopathology can only be understood within the context of a person’s family, community, and sociocultural environment. These may differ according to client’s gender race/ethnicity/culture/religion immigration status sexual orientation socioeconomic status

Given above, a client’s “psychopathological” behavior: may be influenced by the therapist’s attitudes regarding client’s

demographic characteristics may not actually violate cultural norms and thus not “pathological” may be driven by society’s deficits, rather than the client’s may be treated more appropriately and efficiently through community

interventions

Cultural Competency

What is Cultural Competency?

It’s not easily defined, but what might it entail? What might it NOT entail?

Should we focus on race, ethnicity, and culture in therapy?

Two “good” arguments not to:

1. We are all fundamentally the same

2. Each of us is a unique person with unique life experiences

The fundamental question vis a vis psychotherapy and race/ethnicity/culture:

Assumptions of multiculturalism

Diversity (of all sorts) is valuable and should be pursued

Group differences should be recognized Group differences should be respected Group differences should be valued

Three dimensions of cultural competence

1. Therapist is aware of own assumptions, values, and biases

• role of race/ethnicity/culture plays in his/her own life.• how s/he perceives culture as an influence on mental health• how s/he is perceived by others

2. Therapist focuses on understanding the racial ideology and worldview of culturally different clients

3. Therapist develops appropriate counseling strategies and techniques

(Sue et al., 1998)

Racial ideology

Left Right

Where do you think you are?

Where do you think “liberals” are?

Where do you think “conservatives” are?

Theoretical center

Racial ideologies

Left RightRadical Liberal Neo-con. FascistConservative

Multicultural

Mainstream U.S. ideology

Neo-lib.

Since God created racial differences, racial inequality is both normal and desirable, and it is God’s will that the White race be in “control.”

Race is biologically determined and people generally get what they deserve (a just world)

Race is socially constructed. The path to equality is a color-blind society.

Race is socially constructed. The path to equality is need-based remedy

Race is socially constructed. The path to equality is race-based remedy

Racism so deeply embedded in our structures that reform not possible. New structures must be created.

Racial Ideologies (samples)

Neo-Conservative:

“My proposal for dealing with the racial issue in social welfare is to repeal every bit of legislation and reverse every court decision that in any way requires, recommends, or awards differential treatment according to race…We may argue about the appropriate limits of government intervention in trying to enforce the ideal, but at least it should be possible to identity the ideal: Race is not a morally admissible reason for treating one person differently from another. Period.”

Charles Murray, “Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980”

“A profound difference separates governmental actions that themselves are racist and governmental actions that seek to remedy the effects or prior racism or to prevent neutral government activity from perpetuating the effects of such racism.”

Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall

Liberal:

The culturally competent therapist (cont.)

Is cognizant of cultural explanations of phenomena The behaviors displayed may not be considered maladaptive or

abnormal in the other culture.

There may be a cultural explanation for the client’s experiences

Experience of racism and prejudice may account for certain beliefs/behaviors

Talking to a therapist is a very “cultural” experience that may take considerable adjustment and trust-building for some clients.

Avoids oversimplified cultural explanationsFor example, the idea of collectivism vs. individualism is a broad dichotomy. In reality, these differences lie on a continuum…with not only variation between cultural groups but also within cultural groups.

Avoids making assumptions Each client is an individual, not a stereotype. Be careful about

what you think you know about a person given their cultural background

All cultural “facts” should be treated as hypotheses Do not prejudge which aspects of a client's cultural history, values,

and lifestyle are relevant to your work with the client.

A person’s racial, ethnic, and even cultural background does not necessarily tell us anything important in and of themselves.

Do not assume that client values either cultural assimilation or maintenance of traditional cultural beliefs/practices. Acculturation preferences should be assessed

Experiences of prejudice/discrimination may or may not be salient for the client. Racial and/or ethnic identity should be assessed.

Acculturation: Psychosocial change that occurs when a group or individual comes into continuous first-hand contact w/ another culture

The culturally competent therapist (cont.)

Works with a multicultural orientation Recognizes that culture is there and values cultural differences Understands that cultural differences can trigger important discussions that not

only have therapeutic benefit but also educate both client and therapist and, in so doing, break down stereotypes

Looks for personal and cultural strengths and tailors intervention so that is consistent with client’s cultural values and strengths

Seeks to assist the client in identifying areas that create social or psychological conflict related to bi-culturalism and seeks to reduce dissonance in those areas

Is prepared to deal with situations when the client’s culture seriously clashes with the values/beliefs of the therapist (cultural relativism)

Fowers & Richardson (1996) assert that the therapist can choose to reject the questionable behaviors of the other culture. However, this is contingent upon the therapist first having an accurate and complete perspective on the client’s culture.

The culturally competent therapist (cont.)

Legitimate criticism of Multiculturalism

Conservative Multiculturalism is a form of cultural relativism, and some cultural

practices are morally repugnant Multiculturalism is a rejection of majority culture Multiculturalism encourages cultural separatism

Neo-Conservative We are really all fundamentally the same We all fundamentally different

Liberal Multiculturalism is a form of cultural relativism, and some cultural

practices are morally repugnant (same as conservatives) Multiculturalism is a rejection of majority culture (same as conserv.)

Radical Multiculturalism does not acknowledge power dynamics True multiculturalism is unattainable because of power differential Multiculturalism may threaten the “authenticity” of a group through

contact with other cultures.

An example from the past

Earlier in the course we saw Gina – an African American woman – interact with two White male therapists.

Would the therapist have been more effective in this particular case if he had paid more attention to Gina’s cultural identity and background?

If so, what might a therapist do to display appropriate cultural competence?

Cultural Competence Continuum

Cultural DestructivenessCultural differences are seen as problematic. Goal of therapy is to eliminate cultural differences.

Cultural IncapacityAlthough they do not intentionally seek to cause harm, individuals in this stage believe in the superiority of their own racial or ethnic group and assume a paternalistic posture toward “lesser” groups.

Cultural BlindnessColor or culture is assumed to make no difference and all people are assumed to be fundamentally the same.

Cultural Pre-competenceWeaknesses in working with various cultures are acknowledged and some effort made to improve services to diverse populations.

Cultural CompetenceCultural differences are accepted and respected. Therapists engage in continuing cultural self-assessment.

Cultural ProficiencyCulturally proficient individuals prioritize cultural competency in their clinical work, research, teaching, etc.