Treating a Multicultural Population - Research Paper Example

? Awareness of Multicultural Communication Styles in Counseling Here s Here Multicultural Communication Styles Over the last few decades, it has become apparent that the psychological counseling approaches for the past will not be entirely applicable as the Western world becomes more aware of the need for multicultural considerations. Globalization is the pathway through which these changes are occurring. As business and personal matters continue to displace people throughout the world, many countries are becoming homes to a variety of formerly foreign peoples and customs. In response to the mixing of cultures throughout the world, many disciplines are re-evaluating their theories and applications. This scrutinizing is necessary because the application of many disciplines is inapplicable to multicultural situations due to an overwhelming Western influence. The field of psychology is a primary example of a field that was built almost exclusively on the needs of middle-aged, white men (the typical Western subject pool). The delivery of psychological treatment is a very important aspect of the field, and researchers are now busy altering these treatment approaches to suit a multicultural world. There are several features of psychological treatment that are candidates for examination in the context of multiculturalism. The theories that support these treatments are largely the result of studies on Western populations, the delivery of treatment is designed to be the most compatible with Western communication patterns, and the target outcomes are chosen as a response to the needs of a Western patient base (Xu, 2011). We will focus on the communicative challenges of treating a multicultural population. Communication is an extremely important aspect of delivering psychological (or any other) treatment. Even with altered theories and altered outcome intentions, multicultural treatments would be rendered practically useless without the means to communicate effectively with patients from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Communication can be categorized as being verbal or nonverbal (Sue, Arrendondo, McDavis, 1992). Verbal communication, most commonly in the form of language, is the most obvious means of interaction in counseling sessions. However, other verbal communication may come in the form of reactionary sounds. Some Western examples include “hmm” which indicates contemplation in certain contexts, and “uh-huh” which often conveys understanding. Not only will language differ between cultures, but these sub-vocabulary sounds may also differ in meaning and/or intention. Nonverbal forms of communication may be more extensive than verbal. The most commonly identified form of nonverbal communication is gesturing, which includes individual or coordinated movements of the body that are meant to convey some type of meaning or thought rather than specific messages. Gestures are far from being the only source of nonverbal communication. Body language and posture can communicate interest or agitation among other things, and facial expressions are often interpreted as sources of communicated information. Eye contact is another form of nonverbal communication, as are articles of clothing as they often represent aspects of the wearer’s personality. Aspects of voice quality during speech (rather than the information in the speech) are another form of non-verbal communication. Some examples include pitch, volume, and speed of delivery. Additionally, haptic communication refers to the transfer of information through touching. Psychological therapy is driven by both verbal and nonverbal communication. The misunderstanding of these cues can lead to seriously negative outcomes for the patient, as well as a dissatisfaction and even frustration or anger with the counseling process. Regarding verbal communication, it would be a laborious task to learn the native language of every client in a multicultural setting, but it is not unreasonable to expect a therapist to become familiar with (at least) the different styles of information disclosure that can be observed between cultures. The Western approach to communication is commonly “to-the-point”, while Eastern cultures tend to give much more information before stating the primary concept. It may even occur that the central idea is never directly spoken, but enough information is provided so that it should appear to be somewhat obvious. The description of these methods is not an assessment of value, as information may be equally as valuable as direct explanation, but it simply serves to illustrate the divergence of verbal communication styles across cultures. The meanings of gestures can differ greatly across cultures. In the evaluation of these meanings, gestures are commonly considered alongside other forms of nonverbal communication to gain a full picture of the potential information to be gained. The interpretation of nonverbal forms of communication is far from objective, especially between cultures. A slack posture combined with a waving backhand may indicate indifference and boredom in one culture, but could instead be interpreted as relaxation and trust in another. Perhaps the most intimidating aspect of gesturing is the fact that gestures may have completely opposite meanings across cultures. One of the most well known examples of this duality is the “thumbs-up”. This gesture is among the most foul and offensive in some Middle Eastern cultures, and yet it is a sign of high approval in much of the Western world. Entire forms of nonverbal communication may be deemed inappropriate and/or offensive in some cultural situations. Communicating through touch is an example of a form of nonverbal information transfer that can be either acceptable or offensive, depending on the culture. Counselors must be aware of these barriers to treatment if they are to consistently provide the best possible service in a multicultural setting. In the modern quest to be culturally sensitive, professionals face the risk of focusing on the role of the client as a member of their cultural group, rather than as an individual. While it is certainly important to be aware of cultural differences, especially when it comes to communication styles, counselors must not lose sight of the fact that clients are not simply the result of cultural climate, but are instead individuals in relation to their culture. Even with the best of intentions, the tendency to view a person solely as a member of their cultural group amounts to stereotyping. We can never expect a person to be completely compatible with every conception we have with a given culture, even if they are accurate in describing the culture as a whole. Not only is such a view potentially offensive, but also it will undoubtedly create additional barriers in the counseling process. There continues to be a visible movement for culturally competent counseling in the psychological profession. The concept of multiculturalism has been pervasive in the literature over recent decades, with much of it stressing the need to become familiar with different aspects of multiple cultures as they relate to the client base. Accordingly, communication has been an especially important area of study in multicultural counseling. However, newer research has elucidated the concern for the impact of becoming too aware of cultural affiliations (Chao, Okazaki, &Hong, 2011). As discussed above, there is the issue that arises when a person is no longer viewed as an individual, but instead as a cultural group member. To combat this effect, counselors must first be familiar with the current research, so that they may continue to be informed of advances in the theoretical foundations of multicultural treatment. Furthermore, psychological professionals would be well served by participating in a multicultural environment outside of their profession. Interacting with people of different cultures is likely to imbue a sense of their individuality as well as offering a route through which further multicultural understanding can be achieved. An additional complication with multicultural awareness is the potential to become ethnocentric. Consistently focusing on differences might strengthen the identification of cultures aside from one’s own as the “Other”, or not the same. This distinction often leads to biases and unsubstantiated judgments. Counselors need to be aware of this threat. Multiculturalism has changed modern society, and the psychological professions have been attempting to account for these changes. Research has been undertaken to adapt existing theories for multicultural application, as well as to develop new foundations for treatment. Counselors face several challenges of multiculturalism, not the least of which is communication. Both verbal and nonverbal types of communication can differ in form and meaning across cultures, leading to misinterpretations, misunderstanding, and ultimately negative outcomes for clients. Other potential barriers include unintentional stereotyping, failure to recognize individuality, and the overemphasis of cultural differences. Professionals need to stay informed of advances in research, and should seek out multicultural environments outside of counseling situations. It is also helpful to get advice from colleagues, especially those of distinct cultures and who have personal experience in dealing with multicultural transitions. References Chao, M. M., Okazaki, S., & Hong, Y. (2011). The quest for multicultural competence: Challenges and lessons learned from clinical and organizational research. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(5), 263-274. Sue, D. W., Arredondo, P., & McDavis, R. J. (1992). Multicultural counseling competencies and standards: A call to the profession. Journal of Counseling & Development, (70), 477-486. Xu, J. (2011). Brief analysis on cross-cultural communication. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 1(7), 884-887. Read More