Sociocultural Perspectives

What is implicit bias?

Our unconscious, automatic atittudes, and perception towards a particular social category

• shaped by our experiences and learned associations

• can impact our behavior

What is a cultural lens?

Environment shapes perspective

• how we see ourselves

• how we see others

• reflects tradition and creates a sense of belonging

What are the 10 different aspects of your cultural lens?

1. heritage

2. expression

3. generation and age

4. capability

5. education

6. work

7. faith

8. other values and beliefs

9. gender and sexuality

10. social class

Heritage

where you were born and where you have lived, cultural backgrounds of your family, spouse, or children, what races are you connected to

Expression

how does history influence you, what’s your speaking style, what kind of information does your first greeting convey

Generation and age

what generation are you part of, what are the stereotypes of that generation and do they fit you, what are the attitudes regarding your age

Capability

what physical or mental attributes are most noticeable, what are your strengths

Education

what degrees, certifications and workshops, training experiences, qualifications

Work

who have you worked for, what types of jobs have you worked, what titles have you been assigned

Faith

what is your religion or that of your parents or grandparents, what religion were you raised, would you raise your own children in your faith, what are your religious or spiritual experiences

Other values and beliefs

what social issues are important to you, what cultural backgrounds and experiences influence your positions

Gender and sexuality

how do you self-identify relative to your own gender identity and expression, what are the benefits/strengths of your current self-identifcation

Social class

what is your socioeconomic/financial status history from birth to today, have you experienced any status shifts, what’s your source of income

What is Culture?

a dynamic system of knowledge, concepts, rules, and practices that are learned and transmitted across generations and which undergo change through time

What is Race?

A traditional definition emphasizes biological factors such as superficial traits (eye color, skin, hair) but can also be a socially constructued category or identity

What is Ethnicity?

A group of people that identify with one another

What’s the relationship between cultural and mental health?

a person’s social determinants/drivers of health are shaped by social, economic, and cultural factors that can impact access to and participation in mental health care

What are cultural syndromes?

signs and symptoms that are locally recognized to occur in individuals of a cultural group

What are cultural idioms of distress?

specific ways of knowing about and talking about distress within a cultural group

What are cultural explanations?

culturally defined explanations for the causes and meanings of symptoms, illnesses, and distress

What is a cultural formulation interview?

A field-tested, semi-structured interview tool and process that is intended to help a clinician complete a person-centered, culturally responsive assessment

What is cultural competence?

culture-specific expertise, scientifically minded practice, dynamic sizing

What is cultural humility?

emphasizes constant process of learning, recognizes gap in knowledge without shame