Multicultural Psychology: Self, Society, and Social Change

Multicultural Psychology combines theory, history, and self-reflection to help students understand culture as a way of understanding all human experiences, apply concepts to their lives, assess their awareness, and engage in social change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 424 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2020
Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc

Multicultural psychology is a field that combines theory and history with an active approach rooted in self-reflection. It applies a framework of self-awareness and social justice to foundational and current topics across the field. Multicultural psychology focuses on identity and its social context to help students view culture not just as a minority issue, but as a way of understanding all human experiences.

The field aims to help students apply concepts to their own lives at the point of learning, to assess their own awareness and progress, and to consider their own role and ability to engage in social change. With this balanced approach, multicultural psychology helps students entering the course with varied levels of cultural and diversity awareness to understand their individual and social cultural contexts, to gain awareness of their interactions with others, and to understand the intersections that occur with other cultures across their lives and careers.

One of the key aspects of multicultural psychology is its emphasis on cultural humility. Cultural humility involves a recognition of one's own cultural biases and assumptions and a willingness to learn from and engage with people from different cultures. It involves a shift from a dominant worldview to a more inclusive and equitable perspective that recognizes the diversity and complexity of human experiences.

Multicultural psychology also emphasizes the importance of social justice in understanding and addressing social issues. Social justice refers to the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals and groups, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other characteristics. It involves promoting policies and practices that promote social equality, equity, and inclusion and addressing the systemic barriers that perpetuate social inequality.

Multicultural psychology has a wide range of applications in various fields, including education, mental health, social work, and law. In education, it can be used to develop more inclusive and equitable teaching practices that promote cultural understanding and respect. In mental health, it can be used to develop culturally sensitive and appropriate interventions that address the unique mental health needs of diverse populations. In social work, it can be used to develop interventions that address the social and economic disparities that marginalized communities face. In law, it can be used to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and to address the legal issues that marginalized communities face.

Overall, multicultural psychology is a dynamic and evolving field that has the potential to make a significant impact on our understanding of human experiences and our ability to promote social justice and equity. By combining theory and history with an active approach rooted in self-reflection, multicultural psychology helps students develop the skills and knowledge they need to engage with diverse populations and promote positive social change.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 189 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781506375885