Basics
Culture is another area where more specificity was added. Broadening our perspective about culture is the fact that we all have culture. An individual’s culture impacts a person’s life and mental health. Below is a list of cultural influences that
have been defined in Rule 47. Click on each statement for a full explanation for each influence.
have been defined in Rule 47. Click on each statement for a full explanation for each influence.
Racial or ethnic self-identification: the individual/family would report how they identify themselves in a racial or ethnic context. Race is often defined as being related to a person's appearance - chiefly the color of their skin. It is determined biologically, with genetic traits such as skin color, eye color, hair color, bone/jaw structure etc. Ethnicity, on the other hand, is often defined as relating to cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs.
Experience of cultural bias as a stressor: Description of how the individual has experienced cultural bias from other people (cultural bias being the practice of interpreting and judging behavior by standards inherent to one’s own culture), and how it relates to his or her overall mental health symptoms.
Immigration history and status: Description of the individual’s immigration path (if applicable). Is the client a political refugee, an economic refugee, or on a work or student visa? The intent is not to identify whether the client has documentation to be in the country but more his or her experience as an immigrant.
Acculturation (level of): Level of acculturation (the modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture) could be to “mainstream” culture or it could be into a new social group, a new town, family (in-laws or adoption), or any change in group of people with whom the client associates.
Time orientation: is about how the client understands and uses time. On one end of the continuum there are people with Monochronic orientation of time—task oriented, expect things to be on time, and a separate time and place for work and play. On the other end are people with Polychronic orientation of time—time and schedules are more flexible, maintaining relationships and socializing is more important than accomplishing tasks.
Social orientation: Can involve information regarding the client’s friends, social group, partnership status, sexual orientation, etc.
Communication style (verbal/non-verbal): Culturally impacted verbal and non-verbal communication styles—like call and response, looking at people in the eyes when they are talking, the teenage rolling of the eyes, means of conveying conflict or conflict avoidance, tone of voice, posture and means of expressing one-self verbally and non-verbally.
Locus of control: describes whether the individual feels like they are in control of their environment—their own choices or does the worlds around them “push” them from one choice to another?
Spiritual beliefs: can include religious beliefs or other forms of spiritual beliefs .
Health beliefs and engagement in culturally specific healing practices: What is the client’s philosophy behind their symptoms or mental health situation? Have they gone to culturally specific providers such as a religious provider, Shaman, psychic, etc?