HSP Cultural and Individual Diversity 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Health Service Psychologist working with a Native American client notices the client avoids direct eye contact. What is the most culturally competent interpretation?
- The client is being deceptive or evasive
- Direct eye contact may be considered disrespectful in many Native American cultures (Correct answer)
- The client has a social anxiety disorder
- The client is not engaged in the therapeutic process
Correct answer: Direct eye contact may be considered disrespectful in many Native American cultures
In many Native American cultures, avoiding direct eye contact is a sign of respect rather than deception or disengagement.
Question 2: Which model best describes the process by which individuals of minority cultures adopt elements of the dominant culture while maintaining their own cultural identity?
- Assimilation
- Separation
- Acculturation/Biculturalism (Correct answer)
- Marginalization
Correct answer: Acculturation/Biculturalism
Acculturation/Biculturalism describes maintaining one's heritage culture while also integrating aspects of the dominant culture.
Question 3: According to APA multicultural guidelines, which of the following is a foundational competency for culturally responsive health service psychology practice?
- Treating all clients identically regardless of background
- Self-awareness of one's own cultural biases and worldview (Correct answer)
- Referring all minority clients to providers of their same background
- Using only evidence-based treatments validated on White samples
Correct answer: Self-awareness of one's own cultural biases and worldview
Self-awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions is a foundational multicultural competency per APA guidelines.
Question 4: A Latina client presents with 'susto,' a culturally bound syndrome involving fright and soul loss. What is the most appropriate clinical response?
- Diagnose with conversion disorder and begin CBT immediately
- Dismiss the concept as superstition and focus on biomedical symptoms
- Explore the client's explanatory model and integrate cultural healing practices where appropriate (Correct answer)
- Refer the client to a curandera exclusively and discontinue psychological services
Correct answer: Explore the client's explanatory model and integrate cultural healing practices where appropriate
Exploring the client's explanatory model and collaborating on culturally integrative care respects cultural context while providing evidence-based support.
Question 5: The concept of 'minority stress' in health service psychology refers to:
- Stress caused by working with minority populations
- Chronic stress experienced by stigmatized minority group members due to prejudice and discrimination (Correct answer)
- Stress from being a numerical minority in a workplace
- Acute stress reactions specific to immigrant populations
Correct answer: Chronic stress experienced by stigmatized minority group members due to prejudice and discrimination
Minority stress theory describes the excess, chronic stress experienced by members of stigmatized groups due to discrimination, prejudice, and internalized stigma.
Question 6: When selecting a psychological assessment instrument for a client who recently immigrated from Southeast Asia, which factor is MOST critical to consider?
- Whether the instrument is the shortest available
- The normative sample and cultural validity of the instrument (Correct answer)
- Whether the instrument is computer-administered
- The cost of the instrument
Correct answer: The normative sample and cultural validity of the instrument
Using instruments normed on culturally dissimilar populations produces biased results; normative samples and cultural validity are paramount considerations.
Question 7: Which dimension of Hofstede's cultural framework describes the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups versus expected to look after only themselves?
- Power distance
- Uncertainty avoidance
- Individualism vs. collectivism (Correct answer)
- Masculinity vs. femininity
Correct answer: Individualism vs. collectivism
Individualism vs. collectivism captures whether cultural emphasis is on personal autonomy and goals (individualistic) or group cohesion and interdependence (collectivistic).
HSP Cultural and Individual Diversity 1
A Health Service Psychologist working with a Native American client notices the client avoids direct eye contact.
What is the most culturally competent interpretation?