Multicultural Psychology Exam 3 Study Guide

Health

Complete state of physical, mental, social well-being; not just absence of disease

Health Behaviors

Actions people undertake to enhance or maintain health, influenced by demographics and resources

Health Psychology

Studies psychological factors in health and illness

Common-Sense Model

Health belief model; how patients perceive illness, cope, evaluate, and revise coping

Health Belief Model

Set of assumptions suggesting that health behavior is affected by perception of a health threat and belief in a health practice’s efficacy

Susceptibility

The likelihood of acquiring a disease or being impacted by an illness-producing stimulus

Severity

Intensity of negative health outcome

Benefits

Advantage gained from a health behavior

Barriers

Obstacles that reduce the likelihood of engaging in a new behavior

Health Disparities

Differences in health rates among marginalized vs. privileged groups

Healthcare Disparities

Differential healthcare access or treatment

Influencing Factors (perception of a health threat)

Health values, perceived vulnerability, beliefs about consequences of disorders

Weathering Hypothesis

Accelerated health deterioration among African Americans due to chronic stress, including mechanisms

Mechanisms of Weathering

Allostatic load, epigenetic changes, and behavioral factors

Allostatic Load

Primary mechanism in weathering hypothesis; wear and tear on the body systems due to chronic stress

Epigenetic Changes

Newer mechanism in weathering hypothesis; modifications can occur due to prolonged stress exposure and affect gene expression

Behavioral Factors

Mechanism in weathering hypothesis; chronic stress may lead to high-risk coping mechanisms that can further contribute to poor health

Institutional Racism

Impacts health via access disparities and indirect stress effects; shapes patient-provider interactions, creating barriers and increasing stress. Historical distrust due to unethical studies

Tuskegee Study

Unethical study conducted by U.S. Public Health Service in Alabama from 1932 to 1972; examined untreated syphilis in African American men under the guise of free healthcare. Led to 7 deaths from syphilis and 154 from related heart failures. Exposure of this study helped spur U.S. ethical standards in human research

Henrietta Lacks

In 1951, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent; her cells, known as HeLa cells, became one of the most important tools in medicine for research and advancement

Contradiction in Society

Racism contradicts democratic ideals, yet both coexist in U.S. society, highlighting a deep-seated paradox

Moral Economy

Norms shaping economic treatment and rationalizing health inequities

Barriers to Healthcare Access

Insurance, transportation, cultural competence, language, economic factors

Differential Treatment

Importance of culturally competent care: reducing risks, protecting human rights

Implicit Bias in Healthcare

Providers' biases affect care quality and compliance assumptions, highlighted by Implicit Association Test (IAT) results

Intersectionality

Interactions of social statuses shape experiences; Kimberlé Crenshaw

Deinstitutionalization Movement

Occurred during the1960s and 1970s; pushed for community-based care over institutions, community integration, and autonomy for individuals with disabilities

Post-WWII Advancement

The return of disabled veterans from World War II spurred advancements in clinical psychology and rehabilitation psychology

Mainstreaming in Education

Movement towards mainstreaming students with disabilities in public schools (post-IDEA—Individuals with Disabilities Education Act); focus on accommodating various learning disabilities and promoting inclusive education

Cognitive Accessibility

Improved educational accommodations (extra time for exams, reading programs, structured classroom environments) for students with dyslexia and ADHD

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Law requiring accessible mental health services. Led to increased attention on making therapeutic environments accessible and accommodating

Mental Health Accessibility

The push for physically accessible and communication-accessible mental health services

Medical Model

Model of Disability; disabilities as deficits, focused on "fixing" the individual. Criticized for its narrow focus that often leads to stigmatization and marginalization

Social Model

Model of Disability; disability as socially constructed barriers

Cultural Model

Model of Disability; disability as a social identity influenced by culture

Identity and Community

Key aspect of the cultural model; disability is not just a medical issue or a social construct but also a personal and group identity

Cultural Representation

Key aspect of the cultural model; focuses on how disabilities are represented in media, literature, and art, advocating for more accurate and diverse portrayals

Intersectionality

Key aspect of the cultural model; acknowledges that individuals may identify with multiple social groups that influence their experiences of discrimination or privilege

Empowerment/Advocacy

Key aspect of the cultural model; encourages the empowerment of individuals with disabilities by promoting self-representation/advocacy

Cultural Relativism

Key aspect of the cultural model; considers how different cultures understand and treat disability

Ableism

Discrimination based on assumed inferiority of disabled people

DisCrit

Intersection of Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory (CRT), emphasizing interdependence of racism and ableism, multidimensional identities, social construction and impacts of labels, privileging marginalized voices, historical/legal considerations, whiteness and ability as property, and activism and resistance

Cultural Concepts of Distress

Syndromes shaped by culture (ataque de nervios, susto, taijin kyofusho, dhat syndrome, ghost sickness)

Ataque de Nervios

Latino syndrome, often occurring after a family stressor, in which an individual experiences episodes of screaming, crying, trembling, and aggressive or dissociative behavior, followed by amnesia and rapid recovery

Susto

Latino syndrome explained as a fright causing the soul to leave the body, leading to symptoms of depression and somatic distress until a ritual can restore spiritual balance

Taijin Kyofusho

Japanese syndrome; a form of social anxiety about offending or embarrassing others with one’s body or behavior

Dhat Syndrome

Described in South Asian cultures; syndrome where men develop intense anxiety and somatic complaints (fatigue, weakness, sexual dysfunction) attributed to semen loss

Ghost Sickness

Syndrome present in some Native American tribes; characterized by weakness, nightmares, and preoccupation with death attributed to spirits of the deceased

Somatization

Physical expression of psychological distress, common in collectivist cultures

Cross-Cultural Variations in Symptom Distress

Culture influences not only syndromes but also the typical expression of common mental disorders like depression, anxiety, or psychosis

Neurasthenia

Condition of exhaustion and somatic symptoms in China; essentially a culturally sanctioned label that avoided stigma while capturing suffering

DSM-5 Cultural Formulation

Structured assessment of cultural identity and explanatory models during diagnosis

Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI)

Approach that provides a systematic outline for gathering cultural information during assessment

Stigma

Influences help-seeking behaviors across different cultures; major barrier to mental health acknowledgment in many communities of color

Epidemiological Paradox

Lower disorder prevalence among minorities but chronic and severe when diagnosed

Diagnostic Disparities/Biases

Overdiagnosis of schizophrenia in African Americans; underdiagnosis of internalizing disorders and overdiagnosis of conduct disorders in minority youth

Culturally Aware Assessment

Importance of understanding sociocultural contexts, building trust, and recognizing culturally specific symptom expressions in diagnostic assessment

Decolonizing Psychology

Critiques Eurocentric psychology and colonial influences; advocates situating mental health within historical, cultural, and political contexts; rejects universal application of Western psychiatric models without cultural adaptation; calls for epistemic humility and incorporation of Indigenous and community knowledge

Epistemic Humility

Practice of recognizing multiple ways of understanding the mind

Derald Wing Sue - Tripartite Model of Multicultural Competence

Model asserting that culturally competent professionals must develop three key domains: awareness, knowledge, and skills

Multicultural Awareness

Key domain in Tripartite Model; self-reflection on biases and assumptions

Knowledge

Key domain in Tripartite Model; understanding cultural contexts and social dynamics

Skills

Key domain in Tripartite Model; applying culturally appropriate interventions

Cultural Humility

Ongoing attitude and approach to multicultural practice; Tervalon and Murray-García argued that traditional notion of “competence” is insufficient. Framework emphasizes humility over expertise

Culturally Sensitive/Responsive Interventions

Therapies, prevention programs, or community interventions that are adapted to, or originated from, the cultural context of the people they serve

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

Intervention development that involves collaborating with community members at every stage of developing an intervention

Community-Based Interventions

Interventions involving local support networks (e.g., promotoras de salud, faith-based programs)

Culturally-Attuned Mental Health Care

Practice of integrating multicultural competence and humility at clinical, organizational, and systemic levels; promotes advocacy, prevention, community empowerment alongside therapy. Continuous learning and self-reflection for culturally responsive practice