Cultural sensitivity and awareness involve understanding cultural differences without making judgments of one culture being better than another. Developing cultural awareness requires becoming aware of one's own biases while valuing diversity, building respectful friendships to foster understanding, acquiring knowledge through classes and experiences with other cultures, and recognizing differences within cultures rather than assuming all members of a group are the same.
This slide corresponds with Wrench, McCroskey, and Richmond's (2008) Human Communication in Everyday Life: Explanations and Applications published by Allyn and Bacon.
In their 40 page article, Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva Chung discussed the factors that affect the formation of our ethnic and cultural identities, the role of the family as a framework of our society and possible scenarios when an individual migrates/encounters a different culture.
This slide corresponds with Wrench, McCroskey, and Richmond's (2008) Human Communication in Everyday Life: Explanations and Applications published by Allyn and Bacon.
In their 40 page article, Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva Chung discussed the factors that affect the formation of our ethnic and cultural identities, the role of the family as a framework of our society and possible scenarios when an individual migrates/encounters a different culture.
View the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCMCNReYnYs
Earn counseling CEUs here: https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/684/c/
Assumption 1: Counselors will not be able to sustain culturally responsive treatment without the organization's commitment to it.
Assumption 2: An understanding of race, ethnicity, and culture (including one's own) is necessary to appreciate the diversity of human dynamics and to treat all clients effectively
Assumption 3: Incorporating cultural competence into treatment improves therapeutic decision-making and offers alternate ways to define and plan a treatment program that is firmly directed toward progress and recovery
Assumption 4: Consideration of culture is important at all levels of operation—individual, programmatic, and organizational
Assumption 5: Culturally congruent interventions cannot be successfully applied when generated outside a community or without community participation.
Assumption 6: Public advocacy of culturally responsive practices can increase trust among the community, agency, and staff.
Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings - Purposive Communic...Nathaniel Aliguyon
Globalization impacts communication in various ways and degrees. Also, communication varries depending on the cultural setting. English, as a medium of communication, has been evolving into more nativized varieties of the language.
Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings - Purposive Communic...
Cultural sensitivity awareness
1. The information shared here is adapted from the following websites: http://www.ethnicharvest.com/ideas/10-
steps.htm, http://cecp.air.org/cultural/Q_howdifferent.htm, http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Cultural-
Competence.html, http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/cultural-sensitivity.
What is cultural sensitivity and cultural awareness?
Cultural sensitivity begins with the understanding that there are differences among cultures.
Furthermore, cultural sensitivity includes placing value on this diversity.
Cultural Sensitivity
Knowing that cultural differences as well as similarities exist, without assigning values (i.e. better
or worse, right or wrong) to those cultural differences.1
Cultural Awareness
Developing sensitivity and understanding of another ethnic group. This usually involves internal
changes in terms of attitudes and values. Awareness and sensitivity also refer to the qualities of
openness and flexibility that people develop in relation to others.2
Cultural Knowledge
Familiarization with selected cultural characteristics, history, values, belief systems, and
behaviours of the members of another ethic group.3
How can you develop cultural awareness?
One can never learn everything about another culture; however, there are practical, everyday
steps we can take to develop our cultural awareness. Here are some suggestions:
Develop awareness: take a look at your own biases and prejudices, become aware of
cultural norms, attitudes, and beliefs, and value diversity;
Don’t allow cultural differences (preferences) to become the basis for criticism and
judgements. Differences are neither good nor bad – it is what we do with them that
makes a difference;
Build friendships of mutual respect and a desire for understanding;
Be yourself and show that you care about the person and that you honestly want to
help;
Take time to listen. If you don’t understand, or you are not being understood, take the
time to find out why. Explain or ask questions. For example, “Would you help me
understand?”
Acquire knowledge about other cultures by attending classes or seminars, reading books
or watching movies about other cultures, and attending cultural events/festivals.
Developing a culturally competent attitude is an ongoing process. It is important to view all
people as unique individuals and realize that their experiences, beliefs, values and language affect
their ways of interacting with others and the larger community. Also, be aware that differences
also exist within cultures. It is wrong to assume that a common culture is shared by all
members of a racial, linguistic or religious group.
1
National Maternal and Child Health Center on Cultural Competency, 1997
2
Adams, 1995
3
Adams, 1995