Multicultural Competency Paper
Psych 535
June 24, 2013
Dr. Gretchen Brandhorst
Multicultural Competency Paper
Individuals, who have the ability of understanding and appreciating an adequate amount of another culture while having the ability to communicate and work with individuals from that culture, are socially capable. The American Psychological Association formed a group of culture detailed and multiethnic rules. These particular guidelines supply a platform for psychologists for the effective dispersal of services to the general public (GMETRPOCP, 2003).
Focusing on guideline number one, “psychologist are encouraged to recognize that, as cultural being, they may hold attitudes and beliefs that can detrimentally influence their perceptions of and interaction with individuals who are ethnically and racially different from themselves” (GMETRPOCP, p.8, para.12, 2003). It is truly vital that psychologists identified and admit that his or her individual ideas, opinions, and outlooks can influence the effectiveness of the rapport he or she has with his or her clients. This is of the greatest significance because unwillingly, a psychologist’s individual view of another person can lead to negative judgments built on the group in which the psychologist’s has categorized the individual. Many issues become pertinent, including factors that can influence individuals to begin categorizing others that can lead to attitude changes simply because someone is racially or culturally different from him or her. Individuals become so emotionally deadened and without conscious thought he or she is biased or stereotypes individuals in out-groups (GMETRPOCP, 2003). For many psychologists his or her clients many are in minority groups and therefore considered in the out-group category.
The second guideline asserts that “Psychologists are encouraged to recognize the importance of multicultural sensitivity/responsiveness, to knowledge of, and understanding about...