What is culture
Learned, shared experiences
- Customs, values, beliefs, activity patterns
- Behavior standards and expectations (norms)
- Group and individual occupational behavior
- Embedded in society to which one belongs
Culture is….
- Culture is real, but not tangible
- Culture is learned, not innate
- Culture is expressed by individuals, but shared by society
- Culture is dynamic and changing, but not quickly
- Culture shapes values and value systems
- Culture is “invisible” or taken for granted
Culture is different but related to…
- Race (physical attributes)
- Ethnicity (national origin, social grouping)
- Religion
- Language
- Sexual orientation
Examples of cultural archives
Morals
- Art
- Law
- Customs
- Values
- Speech patterns
Interaction
- Economic
- Goals
Multiculturalism ◦Cultural Awareness ◦Cultural Sensitivity ◦Culture Specific ◦Culture Universal
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Cultural Aware ness
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Cultural Sensitivity
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Culture Specific
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Culture Universal
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Cultural Competence
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Myth
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Stereotypes
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Xenophobia
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Prejudice
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Discrimination
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Ethnocentrism
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Attitudes
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Beliefs
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Ideology
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Cultural influences
- Individual
- Family
- Community
- Regional
Cultural filters
People perceive culture through their own life’s experiences.
- Filters of therapist must also be considered
- Potential biases may arise
- Most importantly – the two cultural filters need to be negotiated.
Why should OT practitioners be culturally competent?
- Accurate assessment and evaluation
- Individualized therapy process
- Collaboration with client
- Provide equitable services, avoid bias
- Refine OT theory
Cross-cultural issues in OT
•Beliefs about health and illness
◦Biomedical model
◦Folk practices
•Gender and family structure
◦Collectivist vs. individualistic society
•Touch and space
◦High or low touch
◦Proxemics
Consequences of dismissing cultural factors in OT
- Difficulty in establishing rapport
- Communication problems
- Different goals and priorities
- Noncompliance
- Dissatisfaction
- Ill feelings towards patient and/or cultural group
- Noncompliant family members
Spirituality
Deep experience of meaning”
- Depend on personal values and beliefs
- My be related to expression of religion
- Enacted through occupation
- Relies on reflection and intention
Integrating spirituality into OT
Diversity in society makes this problematic for some
- Consider how spirituality influences practitioner; how personal beliefs influence therapy process
- Recognition worth and efficacy of all clients, acknowledge their spiritual needs