An Overview of Cultural An Overview of Cultural DifferencesDifferences

Kris Lublin and Talon Greeff

University of Phoenix

CNSL 534

Cultural differences impact many Cultural differences impact many areas of an individual’s life: areas of an individual’s life:

MedicalMarketingAcademicLifestyleLeisure

Counseling AttritionCounseling Attrition

“Attrition is generally defined as the client’s failure to return for therapy. It is estimated that 50% of culturally diverse groups terminated therapy after only one contact with a mental health professional (Paniagua, 1998).”

IntroductionIntroduction

Utah Demographics Utah Minorities

– African-Americans– Asian/Pacific-Islanders– American Indians– Latino

• Hispanics• Mexicans

Cultural Competency

1. Utah Statistics1. Utah Statistics

Not racially diverse compared to many other states

Current demographics indicate increased diversity

2000 Census will verify and quantify the gains by minority groups in the State of Utah

1990 Census Demographics1990 Census Demographics

Caucasian---------87% Hispanics-----------5% Blacks-------------->1% American Indian--2% Asian/Pacific

Islander--------------3% Other-----------------2%

2. Utah Minorities2. Utah Minorities

African-Americans Asian/Pacific-

Islanders American Indians Latino

• Hispanics• Mexicans• Puerto-Rican

Americans• Cuban-Americans

African-AmericansAfrican-Americans

Black vs. African-Americans

Treatment of Illnesses

Spirituality Family Systems

Counseling ImplicationsCounseling Implications

Ask for client preference

Use as combined or alternative treatment

Include clergy Figure out who is

head of household

Asian/Pacific-IslandersAsian/Pacific-Islanders

Over 30 different groups

Shared decision-making

Silent communication

Preservation of harmony

Care for the elderly

Counseling ImplicationsCounseling Implications

Family-oriented treatment

See therapist as figure of authority

Show expertise and authority

Alternative home care for elderly

American IndiansAmerican Indians

Family systems Non-verbal

communication Concept of time Treatment of

illnesses

Counseling ImplicationsCounseling Implications

Involvement of tribal members

Set limits on time Use as combined

or alternative treatment

Access to Federal guidelines and resources

Latino(a) AmericansLatino(a) Americans

Latino(a)s includes individuals from each of these three areas of the world (Randall-David, 1993).

Hispanic AmericansHispanic Americans

Hispanic Americans, are residents of the United States who trace their ancestry to countries in the western hemisphere where the Spanish language is spoken. People of Hispanic background have lived in what is now the United States since the 17th century.

Hispanic AmericansHispanic Americans

In 1990 the U.S. census counted 22.3 million Hispanic Americans.

An additional 2 to 3 million illegal Hispanic immigrants live in the United States.

Hispanic Americans are the fastest-growing minority group

Experts predict that Hispanic Americans will number more than 50 million by the year 2025.

Mexican AmericansMexican Americans

Cinco de Mayo commemorates a Mexican military victory. On May 5, 1862, a relatively small Mexican force defeated invading French troops in the Battle of Puebla. Today, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican culture and heritage.

““Tex-Mex”Tex-Mex”

“Tex-Mex” are Mexicans from Texas.

Example of Musical style Sung in Spanish but its

influenced by German and Czech polkas, waltzes, and other musical styles brought to the state by European settlers in the mid to late 1800s.

Heard at weddings, anniversaries, graduation parties and festivals.

Large population in South and Central Texas.

Puerto RicansPuerto Ricans

The second largest subgroup with 2.7 million Puerto Ricans live in the United States, primarily in New York and New Jersey.

Another 3.5 million live in Puerto Rico, a commonwealth associated with the United States.

Received Federal benefits that some believe trapped them in poverty because of commonwealth status.

Discrimination in employment and

education trapped them.

Percussionist Tito Puente, born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents,

Cuban AmericansCuban Americans

Third largest subgroup Number about 1 million

concentrated in Florida, especially in the Miami area.

Cuban immigrants from 1958

mostly well-educated members of the middle and upper-middle classes, with a partial knowledge of English and a clear sense of national identity.

Political force in Florida

Other Hispanic GroupsOther Hispanic Groups

Since the 1970s, civil wars and economic turmoil in Latin America have brought substantial numbers of emigrants from other countries.

About 500,000 Salvadorans immigrated to the United States during the 1980s. These Salvadoran immigrants settled primarily in Washington, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts, and California.

Also in the 1980s, civil war in Nicaragua drove around 800,000 Nicaraguans to the United States.

In the Dominican Republic, a shrinking job market and political unrest resulted in a large immigration of Dominicans to the United States, particularly to New York City.

Colombian Americans, numbering about 352,000 in 1990, are the largest group of Hispanic Americans with roots in South America.

Created distinct Hispanic American communities, each struggling to establish a unique identity in the United States.

Hispanic DifferencesHispanic Differences To varying degrees, Hispanic

cultures have been influenced by Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Spanish, African, Asian, and Native American traditions.

Many people from Latin America are mestizos (people of mixed European and Native American ancestry) or mulattos (people of mixed African and European ancestry).

Dealing with very educated and uneducated, poor and rich, legal and illegal--and all in between.

Factor in the degree to which they have adopted “American” cultures and values.

Attempts to unify Hispanic Americans under a single banner have often created tensions.

Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans often have little in common.

Easier to identify with other minorities.

Cuban Americans have often allied themselves politically with Jewish Americans. Puerto Ricans have built similar alliances with African Americans.

Mexicans are often characterized as dishonest, criminals and bums (Randall-David, 1993) by other Hispanics.

Counseling ImplicationsCounseling Implications

Much diversity within the culture.

Extended family is often important to clients.

Behavior and its impact on family rather than self often important.

Negative over-identification with culture can lead to dysfunction I.e. gang involvement.

Language issues. Be Multiculturally competent. Who is he?

ReviewReview

Utah has small minority populationMinority issues highlighted because

they are such a small part of the population

Cultural Competency

ConclusionConclusion

“Unintentional behavior is perhaps the most insidious form of racism. Unintentional racists are unaware of the harmful consequences of their behavior. They may be well-intentioned, and on the surface, their behavior may appear to be responsible….The major challenge facing counselors is to overcome unintentional racism and provide more equitable service delivery (Sue et al., 1998).”

An Overview of Cultural An Overview of Cultural DifferencesDifferences

Kris Lublin and Talon Greeff

This training presentation is available for download at:www.utahparenting.org

© 2007 Utah Youth Village.