Chapter 5: Cultural Diversity

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

defined as a shared system of beliefs, values, and behavioral expectations that provides social structure for daily living.
- it includes the beliefs, habits, likes, and dislikes, and customs and rituals learned from one’s family

Question 2

Subcultures

Answer 2

• Large group of people who are members of a larger cultural group
• members have certain ethnic, occupational, or physical characteristics not common to the larger culture

Question 3

Dominant group

Answer 3

• has most authority to control values and sanctions of society

Question 4

Minority group

Answer 4

a physical or cultural characteristic identifies the people as different from dominant group

Question 5

Cultural assimilation

Answer 5

• minorities living within a dominant group lose the characteristics that made them different
• values replaced by those of dominant culture

Question 6

Culture shock

Answer 6

• the feelings a person experiences when placed inn a different culture
• may result in psychological discomfort or disturbances

Question 7

Ethnicity

Answer 7

• sense of identification with a collective cultural group
• largely based on group’s common heritage
• one can belong to an ethnic group through birth or adoption of characteristics of that group
• groups share unique cultural and social beliefs and behavior patterns
• Largely develops through day-to-day life with family and friends within the community

Question 8

Race

Answer 8

• typically based on specific characteristics
• skin pigmentation, body stature, facial features, hair texture

Question 9

Cultural imposition

Answer 9

belief that everyone should conform to the majority belief system

Question 10

Cultural blindness

Answer 10

• ignores the differences and proceeds as if they did not exist

Question 11

ethnocentrism

Answer 11

belief that one’s ideas, beliefs, and practice are the best or superior or are most preferred to those of others

Question 12

Cultural conflict

Answer 12

• people become aware of differences and feel threatened. Responses - ridiculing beliefs and traditions of others to make themselves feel more secure

Question 13

Elements of Cultural Competence

Answer 13

• recognize that each person holds various beliefs about pain and that pain is what the patient says it is
• respect the patient’s right to respond to pain in one’s own fashion
• never stereotype a patient’s responses to pain based on the patient’s culture
• be sensitive to nonverbal signals of discomfort, such as holding or applying pressure to the painful area or avoiding activities that intensify the pain
• developing self-awareness: make sure you understand norms of culture
• Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of a patient’s culture