Yo Jackson – Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology

Автор: Yo Jackson
Название книги: Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Психология
Страницы: 494
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

The Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology is the first authoritative guide to synthesize the dynamic field of multicultural psychology. This volume includes entries on a broad array of issues and covers the breadth of psychology viewed through the lens of the racial and ethnic minority experience. The Encyclopedia addresses culture across a broad spectrum of psychological perspectives and includes topics that are relevant to social psychology, cognitive psychology, environmental psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and clinical psychology
The study of multicultural psychology has a long
and multifaceted history. The field encompasses a
wide range of subdisciplines within psychology and
includes a multitude of populations both within and
outside of the United States. Early efforts to examine
issues relevant to people of color in psychology often
attempted to describe differences among populations
as a way to better understand the influence of culture
on the human organism. Unfortunately, the results of
the early research were often interpreted in terms of
inferiority on the part of one group over another and
were usually of little benefit to people of color or
nations as a whole. Current efforts include a broad
range of methodologies for research and training and
a strong desire to produce useful results for understanding
the role of culture in human behavior.
Debates continue over the appropriateness of modern
psychological theories to capture the influences of
culture. Generally, Western approaches advocate for
the universality of human development and behavior
and the field as a whole has yet to embrace or understand
the complexities of cultural styles in modern
research and practice. Evidence over the past 30
years, however, suggests that long-standing academic
traditions are woefully inadequate and inflexible to
accurately measure, interpret, or support a universal
approach.
Culture is important, and the focus of the Encyclopedia
of Multicultural Psychology is to provide an
index to the terms, concepts, and issues in the mainstream
of field. Professional organizations since the
1970s have advocated and demonstrated the need for
more comprehensive ideas when it comes to human
behavior that include cultural background when studying
psychological constructs. And, since the 1970s,
international and ethnic minority psychologists alike
reflected growing concerns regarding the meaning of
psychology for all peoples. The field of multicultural
and cross-cultural psychology has a relatively short
history and is making its way into the foundations
for training new psychologists. To this end, national
accrediting organizations in psychology and licensure
boards across the country continue to refine mandates
for training that include a focus on multicultural psychology.
As more multicultural research is compiled
and the findings disseminated, the need for comprehensive
texts like the Encyclopedia of Multicultural
Psychology become stronger.
The Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology is
meant to be an authoritative guide to the field of multicultural
psychology. The title is intentional and supports
the notion that culture, not race, is the best way to
understand differences among individuals. Because the
field is expansive and expanding, no one volume can
cover all of the important topics germane to the area.
Therefore, although this text includes entries on a broad
array of issues and topics, it is not meant to be comprehensive.
It is designed to be of particular interest to
laypersons, students, and professionals new to the field
with an interest in the role of culture in psychology.
The text includes topics that are relevant to
social psychology, cognitive psychology, environmental
psychology, cross-cultural psychology, and clinical
psychology. Because one of the recent concerns in
clinical psychology is the application of culture-based
findings to multicultural populations, the text includes
a focus on treatment or applied issues in multicultural
psychology. The text also includes a focus on psychopathology
and the manner in which it is defined
and measured from different cultural perspectives.
Folk illnesses or indigenous pathologies are also
included so that the reader may explore how mental illness
or mental health is perceived from a traditional
culture viewpoint.
Every effort was made to include all large
ethnic groups and subgroups in the United States in this
text; however, other cultural groups may not be included
due to limited research and knowledge. Even within
subgroups, knowledge may be limited as research
publication is only beginning to catch up to the need for
information on cultural groups with smaller numbers.
One of the objectives of this text was to address
culture across a broad spectrum of psychological perspectives.
To this end, the text also includes topics
on sociological issues as well as conceptual issues
relevant to the field of multicultural psychology.
Moreover, the text also addresses how some psychological
constructs are measured, as the available data
are only as good as the measurement tools used to
gather the information. Finally, cultural concerns are
also addressed, including, among others, topics on
traumatic events that are especially relevant for understanding
the worldviews of people of color.
With the arrival of new journals and professional
organizations, the field of multicultural psychology
is growing. Clearly the field has a long way to go to
meet current empirical and professional standards
enjoyed by many other disciplines of psychology. Part
of this growth is embodied in the need for the
Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology in that new
and more established psychologists alike will need
information and understanding of how cultural issues
are relevant to their work.
Culture is not a topic with relevance limited to
psychology. The need for greater understanding of
the role of culture is at the forefront of national and
international relations. It is also not a topic limited
in interest to people of color. Although the universal
perspective in psychology may no longer be a reasonable
position, there is a universal call for increased
research, knowledge, and awareness of how culture
affects our lives. Public debate on culture seeks to find
commonality and insight both within and between
people from all cultural backgrounds. It is to this end
that this text may highlight the major issues and bring
to bear the field’s appreciation for the influence of
culture. The Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology
presents an introduction to the field for those
interested in improving their awareness and comprehension
of cultural practices prevalent among and
between all people.
Completing a volume on a broad and sometimes
controversial topic would not be possible without
the assistance of many individuals. I would like to
acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Assistant
Editor, Kimberlee Roy, in making this text a reality.
Also, the text would not be possible without the work
and expertise of the distinguished list of authors and
the members of the advisory board. Finally, I would
like to thank my father, James Warren Jackson, and
my mother, E. Katherine Eberhard, for their support,
guidance, and instruction on how to be a living model
for tolerance and cultural appreciation.
—Yo Jackson