Cross-cultural Considerations Research Articles

Moving toward cultural competence in the child welfare system

This paper uses a culturally competent (Cross, Bazron, Dennis & Isaacs, 1989) perspective to examine the child welfare system's, namely protective services, response to children of color. The purpose of the paper is to indicate how the absence of cross-cultural considerations in both child welfare policy and practice, limits the effectiveness of service delivery to children of color and their families. Specifically, three key aspects of the child welfare system are addressed: past responses to children of color, worker-client interactions, and child protective service agencies. The paper ends with several recommendations.

In Search of a Dialogic Criticism: Ethnocriticism and Native American Literatures

IN ETHNOCR1TICISM, ARNOLD KRUPAT OFFERS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND cross-cultural consideration of some of the thorniest issues central to the study of Native American literatures. He presents an eclectic discussion of at least three major foci: history of interrelations between ethnography and literature; several close, but brief, readings of Native American texts (Cherokee memorials, oral narrative performances, and autobiographies); and recurring call for the practice of what he calls ethnocriticism, ... an interdisciplinary mix of anthropology, history, and critical theory (4). As an alternative to postmodernism and in the service of a cosmopolitan [global] social order (245), Krupat proposes vision of literaryhistorical-ethnographic critical practice for the study of Native American literatures, particularly, and other marginalized literatures, generally. Summarized briefly, the practice of ethnocriticism promotes multiculturalism, which leads to polyvocal polity-that is to say, society in which Bakhtinian dialogic values replace Western binary oppositions.

Cross-cultural considerations in clinical ethics consultations

Cross-cultural encounters between patients and physicians are now commonplace. Although increasing attention has been given to cultural issues in clinical medicine, there has been little discussion of cultural differences presenting as ethical dilemmas. We report four cases in which such differences led to requests for ethics consultations. In analyzing these cases, we identify four elements that are essential for successful resolution of such dilemmas: (1) an ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families; (2) a sufficient understanding of the patient's cultural background; (3) identification of culturally relevant value conflicts; and (4) a willingness to pursue discussion of the ethical dilemma until a compromise is reached or an otherwise satisfactory resolution of the problem is achieved. We conclude with several practical guidelines for clinicians facing ethical dilemmas in cross-cultural interactions with patients.

A Cross-cultural Adventure: The Transformation of Ronald Nixon

It was very rare for a Westerner to cross over into traditional Hindu culture during the British period of Indian history. One figure to do so, however, was Ronald Nixon, who later came to be known by the name Krishnaprem and was recognized as a Hindu saint by many Indians of his day. This paper explores the life and thought of Krishnaprem by examining both his own published works and private sources. It investigates the way in which he negotiated resistant boundaries within Hindu culture and highlights the nature of his move from those dimensions of Hindu culture that were publicly acceptable to Western intellectuals into those private realms which were not. The life story of Ronald Nixon provides good opportunity for cross-cultural considerations and challenges many of the assumptions held in the academy regarding cultural boundaries.

Counseling and psychotherapy with Japanese Americans: cross-cultural considerations.

The literature of the past two decades on Japanese-American culture, behavior, and mental health services and issues is reviewed. Counseling and psychotherapy with these clients are then discussed, taking into account traditional Japanese cultural values, with particular emphasis on verbal and nonverbal factors affecting therapeutic approaches and communication.

Mediation methods as an adjunct to counselling couples

Couples involved in counselling frequently present situations in which the participants have assumed opposing and antagonistic positions on an issue; problem-solving has reached a deadlock. In these situations, counsellors may find it useful to employ techniques of mediation as an adjunct to traditional methods of counselling and psychotherapy. This paper describes six stages of mediation used with couples to resolve conflict. The six stages of mediation are: a) introduction; b) problem identification; c) identifying and ordering critical problems; d) generating and evaluating problem-solving options; e) evaluating and selecting mutually acceptable, problem-solving options; and f) making an agreement. The discussion also provides procedural suggestions for implementing each stage, methods for coping with commonly occurring problems, and examples of counsellor dialogue at each stage. The paper also discussed several cross-cultural considerations related to communication, counselling and mediation.

Evaluating quality-of-life measures for clinical trials in Germany

In spite of an increased discussion of psychosocial outcomes of medical treatments, quality-of-life assessments in clinical trials conducted in Germany are rare. Barriers to the development of quality-of-life-related evaluation research include conceptual, methodologic, practical, and political issues. Each issue is characterized by specific problem areas and by current approaches to problem solving; both are affected by crosscultural considerations. This paper analyzes state-of-the-art in quality-of-life research in Germany with regard to four key issues and presents original work in a biometrical center as an example.

Paradigm lost: Cross-cultural considerations in a patient with panic attacks.

Paradigm lost: Cross-cultural considerations in a patient with panic attacks.

Play aggression among zapotec children: Implications for the practice hypothesis

This study evaluates a prominent functional explanation for play aggression, the practice hypothesis, employing data from a non-Western culture, the Zapotec of Oaxaca, Mexico. The practice hypothesis proposes that play aggression, sometimes called rough-and-tumble play, has evolved primarily as a “safe” way for young individuals to practice and perfect adult fighting and/or hunting skills. Ethological observations of 3–8-year-old Zapotec children (n = 48) form the basis for investigating serious and play aggression, and for evaluating predictions stemming from the practice hypothesis. Play aggression in Zapotec children is superficially similar to real aggression, but can be differentiated from aggression in a number of ways, such as by facial expression, nature of outcomes, and amount of behavioral variability. Rates of play aggression were not significantly different between Zapotec boys and girls; however, mixed-sex dyads during play aggression occurred less often than same-sex dyads. Play partners were closer in age than chance would predict, with initiators tending to be slightly older than recipients, except when boys initiated play aggression toward girls. Injuries during play aggression occurred very infrequently (in about 1% of the episodes), and children were more likely to stay together following play than following serious aggression. The Zapotec data are discussed in relation to predictions regarding play partner choice, sex differences, the overall nature (design) of play aggression (in relation to Zapotec adult aggression), as well as in relation to phylogenetic and cross-cultural considerations. It is concluded that most of the findings are consistent with the practice hypothesis. It is also suggested that because play and serious aggression can be distinguished and apparently stem from different underlying motivations, these behavioral patterns not be confounded as is sometimes done in observational studies of children's aggression.

The attributional theory of achievement motivation: Cross-cultural considerations

Based on data collected from the Navajo Indian and other comparative investigations, limitations in previous cross-cultural attributional analyses of achievement motivation are proposed. First, it is suggested that the present comparative attribution literature is characterized by several conceptual perspectives which may be ethnocentric in nature, namely (a) the definitions of success and failure assumed, (b) the causal elements which are imposed, and (c) the tendency to classify causal attributions within bi-polar taxonomic dimensions which may not be meaningful to the culture of interest. Research directions for future cross-cultural attribution work which should assist the comparative investigator in overcoming these conceptual limitations are provided. Second, it is argued that the attributional theory of achievement motivation has several epistemological assumptions inherent within it concerning perspectives of time, individualism, and the nature of causation. These assumptions might lay the basis for a theory which reflects a culturally-specific cognitive process. Further research on the nature and frequency of the attributional process among diverse cultures is advocated.

Quality of working life: Cross-cultural considerations

Quality of work(ing) life (QWL), as a concept and set of intervention activities, involves itself with planned organisational change aimed at improving both work system productivity and employee satisfaction. QWL is affected by cross-cultural factors as soon as multinational corporations engage in business beyond their national boundaries. This paper identifies and discusses the cultural factors which emerge in both parent nations and nations foreign to the parent organisation when considering QWL. In making reference to the interface between culture and QWL, the paper applies Hofstede's (1980) four theoretical cultural dimensions. Special attention is drawn to QWL considerations in the Southeast Asian region.

Island and Continental Puerto Rican Literature: Cross-Cultural and Intertextual Considerations

Island and Continental Puerto Rican Literature: Cross-Cultural and Intertextual Considerations

The prevalence of mental retardation: Cross-cultural considerations from Sweden and the United States

Recent reports from Sweden and other European countries have shown a sharp disparity between their incidence and prevalence figures on mild mental retardation and similar figures in the U.S. (Grunewald, 1979; Martin, Blodgett, Edwards, Geer, & Melcher, 1974; Robinson & Robinson, 1976). The purpose of this paper is to provide a model of intellectual performance that might explain such disparities and predict future levels of occurrence of mild mental retardation. Such explanations should have relevance for our views on the development of intellectual ability as well as, on a practical level, planning the allocation of treatment resources. Such planning clearly depends upon the number of children having the condition in question. Over the past few decades we have progressed substantially in our ability to describe mental retardation and to differentiate it from conditions that superficially resemble it; such as, autism, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, etc., (Baroff, 1974; Robinson & Robinson, 1976). Our ability to identify variables that relate to mild mental retardation also has developed substantially, but correlation does not necessarily lead to understanding. One of the large set of variables that often is associated with mild mental retardation in the U.S. is poverty. But “poverty” is too broad a variable to be explanatory. Such a dimension is a surrogate factor standing in the place of other variables, not yet understood, that control, in part, the actual process, by which the child develops the condition of mild mental retardation (Kirk & Gallagher, 1983). A series of papers has been presented by psychologists in Sweden that allow us to address this issue. The ability to observe two cultures, Sweden and the U.S., that have both substantial similarities and differences provides a natural comparison of the prevalence of mental retardation that would be impossible to achieve through experimental manipulation. Prevalence is used here as the total number of cases present in a population group during a specific interval of time (Kramer, 1975).

Native Persons: An Assessment of their Relationship to the Dominant Culture and Challenges for Change

The paper identifies and examines some of the economic, political, religious and social structures created by the dominant white culture and their effects on the mental well-being of the Cree and Ojibwa people residing in Northwestern Ontario. Two major clusters of problems are identified: (i) community power-loss and disenfranchisement and (ii) the establishment of norms which diminish the identity and self-esteem of native persons. Actions which deal with both kinds of power-loss are suggested. The range of goals for these activities include more effective integration, cross cultural considerations and native control over community and resource development. Important functions are identified for community psychologists in program and community assessment and development, public education and advocacy.

Cross-cultural Considerations in the Application of Assertion Training: A Brief Note

Observations from a case study are presented to illustrate some of the problems that may arise when using assertion training with a Japanese-American female. Specifically, these difficulties entail the lack of local baseline data and the ethnic variations in determining the essential components of assertive behavior.

The promotion of interest in the role of the physician associate as a potential career opportunity for nurses: An alternative strategy

Several frameworks are presented for understanding the development of interest in the role of the Physician Associate as a potential career opportunity for nurses. The contribution of professional role identification with nursing, medicine, and amalgamation of the two professions are explored as a basis for career choice. The usefulness of the current mobility model in health careers emphasizing differential vertical and horizontal mobility is contrasted with a classical sociological mobility model. Deficiencies are noted in both professional role identification and mobility models employing horizontal and vertical mobility as a basis for the development of interest in the role of the Physician Associate as a potential career opportunity for nurses. An examination of the factors implicit in the development of the Physician Associate in the emerging nations leads to significant understandings with regard to the development of interest in assuming some roles in those settings. Such cross cultural considerations make possible an integrated approach for understanding interest development of the Physician Associate. Attention is focused upon interest development as a function of: 1. 1. Individual competencies. 2. 2. Aspirational patterns. 3. 3. The structure of opportunities which are made available, as well as upon specific career strategies. Examination of these factors indicates that a major deterrent to career development by nurses in the role of Physician Associate is the pervasive psycho-sexual deference associated with current nursing practice. Attention to this factor in both training and practice setting is imperative in order to facilitate role alteration by nurses.

Cross-cultural considerations in understanding vocational development.

Cross-cultural considerations in understanding vocational development.