Multicultural Competency Paper Psych 535 November 3, 2014 Professor Cejka

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 ethnically and racially different individuals” (GMETRPOCP, p.12, para.2, 2003). One is encouraged to increase his or her knowledge of other cultures and ethnic groups other than the one he or she grew up with or around. Most individuals spend a lifetime in a very small section of the world only aware of the few racial and ethnic differences, yet never having any knowledge of what they truly are. Psychologists are individuals who have needed to understand and are encouraged to take a closer look at aspects such. It is important for him or her to know and understand the positive and negative aspects of one’s culture, including prejudice and discrimination (GMETRPOCP, 2003). Although he or she may not have the same experiences one must have an idea of what another culture has experienced for without it there is not empathy. Psychologist must be willing to look at him or herself and identify a time he or she may have been on the outside and remember. Once he or she does this when interacting with individuals who come from different cultures find a common ground through open communication. Each individual at one time or another has been through an experience where he or she has felt some type of discrimination or a stereotype has be cast because of looks, clothing, body type, skin color, or something else. It is important the psychologist become aware of his or her attitude toward others making him or her aware of judgments that may be restricting the way he or she reasons. Becoming self-aware appears to be central to the issue, it is a daunting task as one must really look inside and learns to relinquish all bias and prejudice when dealing with clients (GMETRPOCP, 2003). Psychologists should always attempt to discover as much as possible about the history of the cultural groups he or she is treating. It should also be said that when talking to a client the psychologist should ask him or her how important it is. Is it important that the psychologist know about Judaism if the client is Jewish, or Buddhism, is religion going to be important issue? In some cases race, religion, etc. are not going to be an issue and in other situations they will be, it depends on the type of counseling. It depends on the situation as everyone will be different and when the situation calls for individuals to take the extra step and learn about another’s culture he or she needs to do so (GMETRPOCP, 2003). Daily individuals come across all types of people and whether or not one wants to admit it the unconscious mind has already made some type of statement or judgment about the individual we meet the second we see him or her. Many individuals say that they are color blind that he or she does not see color; this is not true, as it is impossible. Instead of saying the world is colorblind this individual chooses to live in a world of many colors and notices them all without apology because no judgment goes with the noticing the color it is simply beautiful. To fix the problems one must first see them. For individuals to do that one must stop pretending to be color-blind see all the color, differences, and just be willing to accept others as they are.

References (GMETRPOCP) Guidelines on multicultural education, training, research, practice, and organizational change for psychologists.(2003). American Psychologist, 58(5),37 7-402. doi:http: //dx.doi. org/10. 103 7/0003-06