Sociocultural Aspects of Occupation Flashcards
Human occupation might best be understood in terms of…
a combination of cultural and social factors—that is, sociocultural influences—because it is impossible to tease the cultural from the social
___ have had a profound influence on the OT profession’s conceptualization of occupation, health, and what constitutes a good life.
Western social institutions
How does OT in Japan differ from OT in the US?
Japanese OTs, for example, are socialized differently by their cultural context, which is characterized by dependence or interdependence, one’s position in the hierarchy, a dynamic location of power, hard work and enduring hardship as virtues, and the values of obligation, responsibility, and situatedness.
Describe the “doing” of occupations.
The doing of occupation in turn influences a person’s being by contributing to his or her sense of self and identity.
Doing also is a means for the person’s becoming, that is, a life-long process of growth, self-actualization, and reaching one’s full potential.
Finally, through doing and being, people also gain a sense of belonging, a concept that is positively correlated with well-being and resonates with people from diverse cultures.
How does culture influence occupations?
Customs, rituals, routines, and behaviors are dictated by cultural norms and expectations.
Cultural and social values influence the relative importance of certain occupations over others, the meanings attached to occupations, and how occupations are orchestrated.
What is cultural distance?
Cultural distance refers to the degree to which two cultures are similar or different. It appears intuitive that adjustment may be easier across cultures that are similar, but studies have shown that people who perceive the other culture as like their own don’t expect to adjust very much.
What is a society?
A society is a group of people with shared geography, social institutions, and culture. Therefore, by this definition, “unless Americans also share a culture, there is no American society.”
What is individual identity?
Individual identity as a person’s sense of self—the conception and expression of one’s own individual identity, referred to as self-identity, and other identities shared through group affiliations, such as national identity and cultural identity.
What is integrated identity?
The idea of an integrated identity resonates with most long-term residents as well as more recent immigrants and speaks to the multiple cultural identities (through affiliation with subcultures) that all Americans hold.
What is intersectionality theory?
Intersectionality theory includes the idea that people hold multiple social locations or statuses based on characteristics such as gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, ethnicity, and race. Social status or location is important in determining one’s life trajectory because the availability of and access to opportunities and resources are dependent on social status.
What are occupations?
The everyday activities that people do to occupy their time, take care of themselves, enjoy life, and contribute to society.
In the US, OT focuses on…
functional ability and independence
What is social stratification?
groups’ social position on the basis of certain characteristics, occurs in all societies
What is the vertical mosaic?
locates different cultural groups in different class positions in society (top and bottom)
What is the importance of social status?
Important in determining one’s life trajectory because the availability of and access to opportunities and resources are dependent on social status.
