Multicultural Psychology: Intro to Discrimination

Psychology

Systemic study of behavior, cognition, and affect.

Multicultural Psychology

Systemic study of behavior, cognitions, and affect in settings where people of different backgrounds interact.

Culture

Value, beliefs, and practices of a group of people, shared through symbols, which is passed down from generation to generation.

Broad Definition of Culture

(A.D.D.R.E.S.S.I.N.G. Framework) 1. Age 2. Development/Disability Status 3. Religion/Spiritual Orientation 4. Ethnic/Racial Identity 5. Socioeconomic Status 6. Sexual Orientation 7. Indigenous Heritage 8. National Origin.

Worldview

Psychological perception of the environment/world that determines how one thinks, behaves, and feels.

Race (biological)

Group of people who share a specific combination of physical, genetically inherited characteristics that distinguish them from other groups.

Race (sociological)

Group of people whose characteristics, values, and behaviors in association share different physical characteristics.

Ethnicity

Combination of race and culture (Ex. Afro-Cubans, Afro-Brazilians, African Americans).

Intersectionality

Meaningful ways in which various social statuses interact (Ex. race, gender, social class) and results in different experiences with oppression and privilege.

Multiculturalism as a Fourth Force

Understanding cultural impact alters and expands our understanding of human behavior.

Biopsychosocial Model

Model of human behavior that takes into consideration biological, cognitive-affective, social interpersonal, social institutional, and cultural factors.

Negative cognitive triad

Psychiatrist Aaron Beck's label for the negative view that depressed individuals tend to have for themselves, the world, and their future.

The White Standard

Normality regarding the majority of researches/studies utilizing Euro-American individuals.

Control Group Criticism

Research involving POC were often criticized for lacking a Euro-American control group.

W.E.I.R.D.

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic; most research in psychology have been conducted on North American college students.

Quantitative Research

Using numeric data to make inferences; considered superior or 'better science' based on empirical information.

Qualitative Research

Non-numerical to understand, interpret, and analyze people's experiences.

Studying Gender Differences

Boys are more mature in moral development/reasoning (initially) and tend to emphasize hierarchy and law/rule, while girls tend to focus on interpersonal issues and compassion.

Studying Older Populations

Studies show that older participants (especially older Asian populations) prefer qualitative data collection and enjoyed the collection process.

Equivalence of Measures

Functional equivalence: equating of items on a test/survey functionally, as opposed to literally.

Conceptual Equivalence

Refers to a term/phrase/construct that has the same meaning.

Linguistic Equivalence

Translation of a term from one language to another that carries with its similar meaning.

Back Translation

Process whereby the measure is translated into the target language, then translated back to original.

Metric Equivalence

Numeric scores that are generally equivalent from one culture to another.

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Heavily context dependent; measures cultural background and experiences, rather than actual intellect.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

Also contextually dependent on cultural experiences.

Culture Fair Intelligence Test

Created by Cattell, utilizes intelligence/visual problem based questions.

The Bell Curve (book)

Controversial book that states that smarter individuals are likely to succeed, but denounced the intelligence of black individuals.

High-Stakes Testing

Includes Intelligence Tests, Aptitude Tests (Career Tests), and Achievement Tests (Ex. SAT, GRE).

Stereotype Threat Condition (Diagnostic)

Condition where participants are told the test is based on intellectual ability.

Bias (of the user)

Bias in interpretation of a test when the test user has a particular perspective/bias that may disadvantage a person/group.

Bias (in the usage)

Bias introduced when a test is used in an inappropriate manner (Ex. being administered in a language in which the test taker is not fluent).

Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

Categorical organization of different forms of defined intelligence(s).

Analytic Intelligence

Understanding of data/information and semantics.

Creative Intelligence

Utilization of imagination and means of expressions.

Practical Intelligence

Adaptability to different situations.

Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence

Categorizes intelligence into several independent areas of specific subjects (Ex. Spatial, Musical, Naturalist, etc.).

Etic Perspective

An attempt to build theories of human behavior by examining commonalities across many cultures.

Emic Perspective

An attempt to derive meaningful concepts within one culture.

Imposed Ethics

Imposition of one culture's worldview on another culture, assuming that one's own worldviews are universal.

Delay of Gratification

Attempted to display differences in patience between different cultures within children.

Results of Delay of Gratification Study

White children chose to wait for a more desirable reward.

Individualism

Motivated by their own preferences, needs, and rights.

Collectivism

Motivated by group's or collective's preferences, needs, and rights.

Idiocentrism

Individualistic tendencies that reside within an individual.

Allocentrism

Collectivistic tendencies that reside within an individual.

Countercultural Individuals

Idiocentric individuals residing in a collectivistic culture, or allocentric individuals residing in an individualistic culture.

Horizontal Individualism

Individual shows interest in showing off one's own uniqueness, self-reliance.

Vertical Individualism

Individual shows interest in competition and comparing themself to others.

Horizontal Collectivism

Individual shows interest in the majority, in which to satisfy the majority as best as they can as a group.

Vertical Collectivism

Individual shows interest in sacrificing their individualism to help their group.

Cultural Tendencies

Shape our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and social interactions.

Guilt

More individualistic emotion, based on own actions and values.

Shame

More collectivist emotion, based on invalid perception from others.

Face Giving/Giving Face

Extolling the virtues of another person in public.

Horizontal Individualism Items

1. I'd rather depend on myself than others. 2. I rely on myself most of the time; I rarely rely on others.

Vertical Individualism Items

1. It is important that I do my job better than others. 2. Winning is everything.

Horizontal Collectivism Items

1. If a coworker gets a prize, I would feel proud. 2. The well-being of my coworkers is important to me.

Vertical Collectivism Items

1. Parents and children must stay together as much as possible. 2. It is my duty to take care of my family, even when I have to sacrifice what I want.

Cultural Differences in Emotion

Cultures' differences in emotion impact self-concept, decision-making, communication style, social relationships, health and well-being, and emotional expression.

Giving face

Promotes positive relationships between people.

Worldview of People of Color

Research shows the early emergence of differences in worldview among people of color.

Doll Experiment

Clark & Clark (1947) study showing that a majority of younger white children consistently gave darker skin tones negative attributes.

Causes of Differences in Worldview - Prejudice & Discrimination

Includes Direct Experience and Indirect Experiences (e.g., observation, media).

Worldview of Women

Differences in worldview caused by sexism and safety.

Causes of Differences in Worldview - Sexism & Safety

Includes Direct Experiences (e.g., workplace, sports) and Indirect Experiences (e.g., observation, media).

Gender Norms/Socialization

Teaching of do's and do not's regarding one's gender.

Worldview of LGBTQ+

Contains an element of fear, danger, rejection, and discrimination.

Causes of Differences in Worldview - Other's Perception & Fear

Includes Direct Experiences and Indirect Experiences (e.g., others' over-perception of LGBTQ+ individuals).

Worldview of Social Class

Differences in worldview between individuals from high SES and those from low SES.

Causes of Differences in Worldview - Education & Financial Freedom

Factors contributing to differences in worldview based on education and financial status.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Model illustrating levels of necessities for one's well-being.

Cooperative Principle

Psycholinguistic term that we strive to communicate with another sincerely and effectively when we engage in conversation.

Grice's 4 Maxims

Quality, Quantity, Relevance, and Manner are communicative presumptions guiding effective conversation.

Quality Maxim

Suggests that we tell each other the truth when we engage in a conversation.

Quantity Maxim

Suggests that we contribute an appropriate amount of talk when we engage in a conversation.

Relevance Maxim

Suggests that our discussion is relevant to the communication.

Manner Maxim

Suggests that we are clear in our language and that we pay attention to normal standards of conversation.

Added Maxims

Include Relations with Conversational Partner and Rule Violations.

Relations with Conversational Partner

Suggests we use our previous relationship with our conversational partner to avoid repeating shared experiences.

Rule Violations

Suggests that we signal our conversational partners when we are about to engage in a violation of one of the maxims.

Conversational Rules Across Cultures

Similar general maxims guide behaviors across cultures.

Proxemics

Personal space in conversations.

Kinesics

Bodily movements in conversations (e.g., hand gestures, facial emotion).

Paralanguage

Nonverbal cues in conversation (e.g., loudness of voice).

Direct Communication

Blunt communication that is literal and to the point.

Indirect Communication

Communication that relies upon context and receiver's ability to draw inferences.

Code Switching

Practice of alternating between two or more languages, including adjusting one's style of speech, appearance, behavior, etc.

Communication Patterns Based on Age

Very limited research on age-based topic.

Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

Derives conflict and virtues regarding different stages in one's life.

Lakoff (1975) - Tag Questions

Tag Questions tend to direct conversation using questions, not being blunt, allowing for conversational partner to respond.

Gender Differences in Communication

More frequent in women than men. Stereotype women as being more expressive.

Wood (1994, 1999)

Women use more indirect forms of communication (Ex. compliments/beating around bush), disclose more about themselves, and express understanding and empathy by matching their experiences with others.

Bilingualism

Acquisition of a second language that does not replace native language.

Subtractive bilingualism/language attrition

Acquisition of a second language that replaces the native language.

Native Bilingualism

Acquisition of two or more languages from early age, usually from parental figures or family environment.

Social Identity Theory

Tajfel & Turner, 1979, suggests that people derive part of their self-concept from group memberships.

Self-Categorization Theory

Turner, 1987, explains how people perceive themselves and others as members of groups rather than just an individual.

Mechanisms of Social Identity Theory

Social Categorization, Social Identification, Social Comparison.

In-group favoritism & Out-group Bias

Favoring our group and devaluing others to enhance self image.