RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY social identity, history, and individual

and community experiences with

Diversity Respect
prejudice and discrimination. It is
 Diversity respect has been identified also important to acknowledge that
as a fundamental principle of our understanding of cultural
community psychology. differences evolves through an
 Understanding diversity's ongoing learning process (Tervalon &
dimensions and knowing how to Murray-Garcia, 1998).
function in a variety of community  The ability to remain open to learning
settings are important parts of about other cultures while
appreciating diversity in acknowledging one’s own lack of
communities, but so is taking into competence and recognizing power
account how to function in systems of dynamics that impact the
inequality. Community psychologists relationship. Within cultural humility
must strive to fight discrimination, it is important to engage in
advance justice and equality, and take continuous self-reflection, recognize
into account a range of viewpoints the impact of power dynamics on
and experiences while doing research individuals and communities,
and developing therapies. This embrace “not knowing”, and commit
chapter aims to provide readers a to lifelong learning. This approach to
basic grasp of the diversity diversity encourages a curious spirit
characteristics that are most and the ability to openly engage with
frequently seen in community others in the process of learning
psychology research and practice by about a different culture. As a result,
operating within a framework of it is important to address power
cultural humility. We also investigate imbalances and develop meaningful
the ways in which these relationships with community
characteristics influence complicated members in order to create positive
identities and community practice change. A guide to cultural humility is
issues. offered by Culturally Connected.

Cultural Humility Cultural Competence

 As our world becomes increasingly  Cultural competence is generally

diverse and interconnected, defined as possessing the skills and
understanding different cultures knowledge of a culture in order to
becomes crucial. Without a basic effectively work with individual
understanding of the beliefs and members of the culture. This
experiences of individuals, definition includes an appreciation of
professionals can unintentionally cultural differences and the ability to
contribute to prejudice and effectively work with individuals.
discrimination or negatively impact 1. Language and Communication:
professional relationships and They make an effort to learn key
effectiveness of services. To phrases in the languages spoken
understand cultural experiences, it is by their patients. For instance,
important to consider the context of they might greet a Spanish-
 speaking patient with "Hola, it impacts health behaviors and
¿có mo está ?" (Hello, how are outcomes.
you?) or ensure that they have o Overall, cultural competence involves
access to interpretation services a deep understanding and respect for
if needed. the cultural differences of individuals
2. Understanding Cultural Beliefs: and communities, which enables
They are aware that certain effective communication,
cultures may have specific beliefs understanding, and collaboration in
about health and illness. For diverse healthcare settings.
example, they understand that
some cultures prefer herbal Dimensions of Diversity
remedies over pharmaceuticals o CULTURE
and are respectful of those o RACE
preferences while providing o ETHNICITY
medical advice.
o GENDER
Cultural Competence o AGE
o SOCIAL CLASS
1. Respect for Cultural Practices:
o SEXUAL ORIENTATION
They respect religious and
o ABILITY AND DISABILITY
cultural practices. For instance,
they understand the dietary o RELIGION
restrictions observed during Impact of Identities
Ramadan for Muslim patients and
provide guidance that respects 1. Privilege
these beliefs.  or the unearned advantages that
2. Awareness of Non-verbal individuals have based on
Communication: They are membership in a dominant group
sensitive to non-verbal cues. For (e.g., race, gender, social class, sexual
example, they recognize that a orientation, ability), contribute to the
patient may avoid direct eye systems of oppression for non-
contact due to cultural norms privileged individuals and groups.
rather than assuming it indicates While privilege can come in multiple
dishonesty or disrespect. forms and individuals can have
3. Tailored Treatment Plans: They multiple privileges, white privilege,
develop treatment plans that or the advantages that white people
consider the cultural background have in society, are important for
of the patient. This might involve psychologists to examine more
discussing with the patient how extensively to understand how white
their cultural beliefs and people participate in systems of
practices can be integrated into oppression for racial minority groups
their healthcare plan. in the US (Todd et al., 2014). For
4. Continual Learning: They example, white experiences and
continually educate themselves perspectives tend to be pervasive in
about different cultures, seeking curriculum, policy, pedagogy, and
to understand diversity and how practices (Suyemoto & Fox Tree,
 2006) at the exclusion of work and topics to a variety of groups, which
research by people of color. may require developing research
2. Diversity in Practice questions and themes in
 Using a framework of cultural collaboration with the impacted
humility, community psychologists populations. Since participatory
consider context. This provides the action research is a useful tool for
ability to view various dimensions of inclusively developing topics,
diversity while considering the community psychologists frequently
impacts of prejudice and utilize it to explore solutions in the
discrimination. It is also important to social context.
consider how cultural practices differ
in all settings in which the individual  Designing programs in the
operates. Considering context community needs to start with an
expands the perspective of culture to understanding of the diverse cultures
include historical context, and communities in which they will
intersectionality of identities, and the be situated. To that end, collaborative
experience of prejudice and and ecological systems approaches
discrimination. used by community psychologists are
3. Diversity in Research incorporated throughout the design
 It takes cultural humility to take of community prevention and
diversity into account in research. intervention programs. Altogether,
When doing research, it's critical to these approaches situate culture at
think carefully about the questions every level of planning a program
posed and the samples used in the from the conceptualization to the
investigation. Furthermore, the implementation. In Case Study 8.3,
significance of research issues to Trickett (2011) provides a cautionary
varied groups must be taken into example of what can happen when
account, which can necessitate culture is not more deeply considered
creating research questions and in community interventions.
themes in consultation with the
affected populations. Community
psychologists regularly employ
participatory action research as a
technique to identify solutions in the
social environment since it is an
effective instrument for generating
themes in an inclusive manner.
 In order to consider diversity in
research, cultural humility is
required. It's important to give
careful consideration to the research
questions and the samples utilized in
the study when doing research.
Additionally, it is important to
consider the importance of research