Family Therapy History Theory And Practice 6th Edition Gladding – Test Bank

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Chapter 5
Working with Culturally Diverse Families

Chapter Overview
 Multiculturalism is a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation and their needs
 Although American society has been diverse since its beginnings, little focus was placed on multiculturalism 

until the 1970s and 1980s
 assumption that conceptual, theoretical, and methodological frameworks already developed would be 

appropriate for everyone, regardless of color or background
 until the 1980s, the non-white population was relatively small in the United States
 today, non-white racial and ethnic groups are growing rapidly and intercultural couples are becoming 

more common
 1 in 15 marriages in the United States in 2005 were mixed race or ethnicity, a 65% increase from 1990

 Interethnic, interfaith, and interracial couples experience challenges both inside and outside the couple and
family

 Family therapists must be open to diversity and culturally competent to be effective
 Cultural competency is sensitivity to factors such as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual 

orientation and the ability to respond appropriately in a therapeutic manner to persons with a different cultural
background than their own

 Therapists who are not culturally competent risk undervaluing, misunderstanding, and/or pathologizing client
behaviors

 Although cultural groups share similarities, stereotyping groups according to cultures should be avoided; within
group differences are greater than outside differences in cultures

What is Culture?
 Culture is the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group

 culture include diverse groups of people who may differ in regard to race, religion, or social status but
who identify themselves collectively in a certain way

 cultures operate on many levels, inclusive or exclusive, specific or general
 cultural values define behaviors and therefore establish norms for attitudes and behaviors within 

families
 Ethnic groups are large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, linguistic, or 

cultural origin or background
 ethnicity influences the kinds of messages that people learn, such as patterns for intimacy
 ethnic family customs influence a group’s “fit” within an overall culture

Dynamics Associated with Culturally Diverse Families
 The ways in which families from different cultural backgrounds view and respond to life events differs from 

other families
 Jewish families often marry within the group, encourage children, value education, and use guilt to 

shape behavior
 Italian families place importance on expressiveness, personal connectedness, enjoyment of food and 

good times, and traditional sex roles
 certain events in the family life cycle represent greater crises for one culture than another
 Irish families view death as the most significant life cycle transition and will go to great lengths to not 

miss a wake or a funeral
 Puerto Rican families stress interdependence in their culture and therefore experience death as an 

especially profound threat to the family’s future and often experience extreme anxiety

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 Culturally diverse families often experience overt as well as covert criticisms of their patterns of family
interaction that may not be universally accepted

 women who are treated as inferior by certain families may be taken to task by others
 majority culture may ignore or disdain important civic or religious holidays in particular cultural 

groups
 Physical appearance (e.g., skin color, physical features, dress) may lead to subtle and blatant prejudice and 

discrimination
 minority culture families are faced with the task of nurturing and protecting each other in ways 

unknown to majority culture families
 Access to mental health services may be difficult for minority culture families, i.e., institutional barriers

 location, formality, advertising of services, clinic operation hours, language used, and lack of culturally
diverse practitioners may limit access and utilization of services by culturally diverse families

 Economic factors such as exclusion from certain jobs and limited employment opportunities result in many
culturally diverse families living in poverty

Issues within Culturally Diverse Families
 Family therapists may be at an initial disadvantage in working with culturally diverse families because the field 

of marriage and family therapy reflects a dominant European American bias
 Sensitivity, experience, acceptance, ingenuity, specificity, and intervention are factors that often determine 

successful treatment
 Sensitivity

 sensitivity and respect for beliefs and the worldview of the client/family is crucial
 ‘culturally encapsulated counselors’ tend to treat everyone the same and make mistakes in so doing for 

they miss diversity
 Experience

 family therapists can benefit from having life experiences that include cultural diversity
 cultural backgrounds of culturally diverse families are often influenced by a family’s experience with 

the larger society
 Acceptance

 therapists who cannot openly accept culturally diverse families may exhibit overt or covert prejudice
that negatively impacts the therapeutic process

 social, behavioral, and economic differences need to be examined to determine whether the therapist
and family are a good match

 Ho (1987) has developed a model for examining therapist’s values
 Ingenuity

 effective family therapists utilize natural help-giving networks that exist in most cultural settings
 therapists act as consultants to agencies and persons who can best work with certain families
 some cultures may respond best to subtlety and indirectness on the part of the family therapist rather 

than direct confrontation and interpretation
 Specificity

 because each family is unique, family therapists must assess the strengths and weaknesses of each
family and design and implement specific procedures for each

 therapy models should be selected and/or modified to address the needs of specific families
 Intervention

 therapists serve as systematic change agents by intervening on behalf of families in unhealthy and
intolerant systems

 some systems involve ‘passive insensitivity to diversity’ (i.e., the plight of people outside one’s culture
is simply ignored) while others involve ‘active and intentional insensitivity to diversity’ (i.e., fostering
active discrimination that is easier to identify)

 advocating for culturally diverse families requires courage, persistence, and time

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Approaches for Working with Culturally Diverse Families
 Culturally diverse families have some commonalities, including the importance of extended family and kinship 

ties
 There are a number of culturally diverse families including the invisible family form Gay/Lesbian (found in 

most cultures) and six culturally diverse family groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino
Americans, Native Americans, Arab Americans, and European Americans 

Gay and Lesbian Families
 1 out of every 10 cases in marriage and family therapy in the United States involves lesbians or gays
 gay and lesbian couples are more likely to seek professional mental health services than heterosexual

couples
 gay and lesbian couples are intergenerational
 gay and lesbian life cycle issues are crucial to understand if these families are to be understood
 there is much within group variation among gay and lesbian families
 gay and lesbian families have mixed levels of satisfaction in their relationships
 many gay and lesbian couples and families suffer from a lack of affirming role models
 gay and lesbian couples and families face discrimination from society in general
 Working with gay and lesbian families

 therapists need to begin by examining their own values and feelings regarding this population
 therapists need to be aware of internal and external issues associated with being a gay or lesbian couple

or family, including cultural and societal homophobia and local, state, and national laws affecting gays
and lesbians

 extended families may need to be involved in treatment due to the difficulty many families have in
accepting the lifestyle and sexual orientation of their kin

 treatment planning can be complex due to the variety of gay and lesbian lifestyles and subcultures
 a challenge is assisting families to relate positively to themselves, their partners, and society
 commitment ambiguity can occur where one partner is not sure about his or her place in the 

relationship

African American Families
 African Americans are currently the second largest minority group in the United States — approximately 

40 million, 13% of population
 because of continuous racism, poverty, and discrimination, the family unit has been an essential institution

for survival
 families are known to be ‘strong’ in the areas of kinship bonds
 religious orientation and spirituality are strengths
 cooperation, strong motivation to achieve, caring parenting, and work orientation are positive 

characteristics of African Americans
 African Americans are adaptable in their family roles, meaning they are less likely to stereotype each other 

into roles based on gender
 male-female relationships tend to be more problematic, conflictual, and destructive
 mistrust, insecurity, unemployment, socialization, and rage (conscious and unconscious legacies of slavery 

and a changing society) influence African American roles
 despite a belief in the institution of marriage, fewer African Americans marry today than at any time in 

history
 out of wedlock births account for almost three of four African American births
 since the 1970s, African Americans have had increasing opportunities for financial and social upward 

mobility, employment and education, and housing and social options
 African Americans who remain in poverty tend to be poorer and less educated, and to have less opportunity

to advance

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 unemployment has risen for African Americans because of the elimination of many working-class jobs
 single parenting, high unemployment, and living in or near the poverty level has resulted in a loosening of 

family ties
 Working with African American families

 although utilization rates for individual therapy are high, they are low for family therapy
 traditionally, African American families have relied upon extended family networks
 men, in particular, have been reluctant to share intimate thoughts and feelings because of 

socialization patterns that have taught them not to share pain and frustration
 trust issues must be resolved between non African American family therapists and African 

American families
 it is helpful to frame family therapy as a form of social support that African Americans can benefit

from
 psychoeducation, especially with single parent African American women, can be effective
 clear understanding of multigenerational family systems in African American communities, 

especially the importance of respect for elderly family members, is crucial for therapists to
understand

 therapists must assure families that they can learn how to handle many of their own problems,
increase their confidence and competence levels

 social and institutional issues may need to be challenged when they act as barriers to improvement
and African American families must learn to advocate on their own behalf

 presentation of positive role models to African Americans can also make a difference

Asian American Families
 Asian Americans trace their cultural heritage to countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, 

Korea, the Philippines, and the Pacific islands
 as many as 32 different Asian ethnic groups have been identified in the U.S.
 shared cultural values include

 respect and reverence for the elderly
 extended family support
 family loyalty
 high value on education
 strong emphasis on self-discipline, order, social etiquette, and hierarchy
 Confucian philosophies and ethics heavily influence some Asian American families

 specific and proper relationships and roles including father/son, husband/wife, elder/younger
siblings

 feelings of obligation and shame are prevalent (e.g., if a family member behaves improperly, the
whole family loses face)

 Buddhist values are also prevalent and stress
 harmonious living
 compassion
 respect for life
 moderation of behavior
 self-discipline
 patience
 modesty
 friendliness

 geographically and emotionally, families are moving further apart
 substance abuse is increasing among some Asian American populations
 weakening of the patriarchic family system with less complete obedience from children and more democratic 

family decision making is on the rise
 Working with Asian American Families

 levels of acculturation must be assessed

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 first-generation families may need assistance in interrelating to other families and societal
institutions; problems of social isolation, adjustment difficulties, and language barriers may also
be prevalent

 role of the therapist with first-generation families may be primarily educational and avocational
rather than remedial

 established families may need help in resolving intrafamily difficulties such as intergenerational
conflicts, role confusion, and couple relationships

 an acculturation gap (i.e., different rates of acculturation) between immigrant parents and U.S. raised
children often result in misunderstandings, miscommunications, and conflict

 because most Asian American families are reluctant to initiate family therapy, therapists can be most
effective by doing the following:
 orient them and educate them to the value of therapy
 establish rapport quickly through the use of compassion and self-disclosure
 emphasize specific techniques families can use to improve relationships and resolve problems

 racism may disrupt internal family dynamics as well as outside relationships
 therapists can assist by addressing societal changes and assessing family skills and values for 

dealing with prejudice and discrimination
 therapists must create a safe and nurturing environment where family members are respected and, 

without fear, explore relevant problems and concerns
 general guidelines for working with Asian American families

 assess support available to the family
 assess past history of immigration,
 establish professional credibility
 be problem focused/present focused
 be directive in guiding the therapy process
 provide positive reframes that encourage the family

Hispanic/Latino American Families
 Hispanic or Latino refers to people who were born in any of the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas 

(Latin America), Puerto Rico, or from the U.S. who trace their ancestry to either Latin America or to Hispanic
people from U.S. territories that were once Spanish or Mexican

 Hispanic/Latino population is the nation’s largest minority and is growing rapidly
 Most Hispanic/Latino American families trace their ancestry to Mexico, Cuba, or Puerto Rico
 Most wish to be in the mainstream of society in the United States
 Family oriented and child centered
 Parents tend to take ‘complementary’ roles in disciplining (i.e., fathers) and nurturing (i.e., mothers) of their 

children
 Challenges for Hispanic/Latino families

 higher unemployment rate than non-Hispanic/Latinos
 live below the poverty line at twice the rate of non-Hispanic/Latinos
 lag behind non-Hispanic/Latinos in earning high school diplomas and college degrees

 Strengths and assets of Hispanic/Latino families
 collectivistic culture which views accomplishments as being dependent on the outcomes of others
 cultural values of 

 dignidad (dignity)
 orgullo (pride and self-reliance)
 confianza (trust and intimacy)
 respecto (respect)
 simpatia (smooth, pleasant relationships)
 personalismo (individualized self-worth)
 machismo (male self-respect and responsibility)

 Working with Hispanic/Latino families
 family plays a central part in Hispanic/Latino culture

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 therapists need to develop a basic knowledge about cultural traditions (e.g., traditional rituals, religious
festivities, Quinceanos, engagements, weddings, and funerals) 

 Hispanic/Latino individuals prefer to get to know someone as a person rather than assessing others
based on external factors (e.g., occupation, socioeconomic status)

 Hispanic/Latinos tend to be physically expressive (e.g., gesturing while they talk)
 specific therapeutic considerations

 stress related to economic and working conditions can contribute to intrafamily difficulties;
therapists can advocate and be a resource in this area

 assess for different levels of acculturation and how the pressure to acculturate may contribute to
family turmoil, especially as it relates to family loyalty

 language factors, especially bilingualism, must be explored
 outside resources, such as the Catholic church, may be helpful in providing social, economic, and 

emotional support
 therapist must reinforce the father as being the central figure of the family
 therapist must initially accept the role of women as self-sacrificing and victims of other family 

members and redirect this behavior to assist in getting others to therapy
 Hispanic/Latinos expect therapy to be brief, reflecting their experience with physicians

American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN) Families
 Extremely diverse group belonging to 557 federally recognized and several hundred state-recognized nations
 Culture is built around

 harmony
 acceptance
 cooperation
 sharing
 respect for nature and family, including extended family

 Break up or dysfunctionality of the family and extended family is a major problem in most AI/AN cultures
 historically, between 25% and 55% of all AI children have been separated from their families of origin 

and placed in non-AI foster homes, adoption homes, boarding homes, or other institutions
 family breakups have resulted in identity confusion and trauma about relationships to others

 More AI/AN families now living in urban areas than on reservations
 cultural connectedness is important to AI/AN families
 urban life is stressful and contributes to poor mental health
 isolation from their roots presents multiple difficulties in terms of functionality

 Substance abuse, particularly alcoholism, is a major problem for AI/AN families
 in some family groups, drinking is encouraged as a form of socialization
 alcohol related problems include suicide, higher death and disorder rates, cirrhosis of the liver, and 

fetal alcohol syndrome
 Working with AI/AN families

 outsiders do not gain entrance into the family easily
 indirect forms of questioning and open-ended questions work best
 therapists should know and utilize sacred symbols that can be used metaphorically as models for 

relationships
 admission by therapists that they may make mistakes in treatment because of cultural ignorance is 

helpful in establishing rapport
 home-based therapy works well by offering essential services to families who would not otherwise 

receive them
 many AI/AN languages have a visual emphasis (e.g., the verb ‘to learn’ is a combination of the verbs 

‘to see’ and ‘to remember’)
 concrete and active behavior, rather than insight is stressed in AI/AN healing
 therapeutic approaches that are directive but open ended are effective

Arab American Families

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 Over three quarters of the Arab American population are immigrants
 Arab Americans mostly come from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
 Arab Americans are the largest cohort of Muslims in the United States
 Arab culture is high context rather than low context as found in North American society

 emphasis on social stability and collectivity
 slower pace of social change

 Family is the most significant element in most Arab American subcultures
 family connections are the source of influence, power, position, and security
 patriarchal family structure; husbands are the undisputed head of the household
 husbands are subordinate to their own fathers who in turn, defer to the head of the clan

 Working with Arab American Families
 sharp delineation of gender roles
 patriarchal authority patterns
 conservative sexual standards
 emphasis on self-sacrifice for the greater good of the family
 emphasis on honor and shame (i.e., outside help is sought only as a last resort)
 negative fallout, tension, and distrust from September 11, 2001
 clinical recommendations for therapists

 be aware of the unique cultural context
 be sensitive to issues of family leadership and authority
 be aware of the strong influence of the family in decision making
 be sensitive to the large role of culture
 be aware strengths-based approaches are most effective
 be active and balanced so as not to be seen as a rescuer or a threat

 initial interventions should focus on exploring identity, blending Arab and American identities, and
replacing either/or decision making

 genograms can be helpful to assess couple/family strengths, both past and present
 although difficult, focusing on couple dynamics can help each spouse find needed support
 helping Arab Americans access religious and other groups can provide support and a sense of 

community

European Americans
 As a group European Americans are sometimes referred to under the category of “White” due to their skin color
 White skin is assumed to grant an individual membership into a privileged group
 Most people equate White with White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) ideals
 As with other groups, European Americans are a diverse group, coming originally from countries such as Italy, 

France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Hungary, Ireland, and Greece
 some groups of European Americans (e.g., Italians, Slavics, and Irish immigrant groups) have 

experienced racist treatment from other European American groups
 WASP values such as rugged individualism, mastery over nature, competitiveness, and Christianity, 

are not representative of all European Americans
 similarities between European American groups and other groups exist, such as being middle-class; 

many differences too
 Working with European Americans

 no one approach fits best
 different approaches may work best for select cultural groups

Guidelines for Selecting Treatment Approaches in Working with Culturally Diverse Families
 Two main approaches

 culture-specific model
 emphasis on values, beliefs, and orientation of different ethnic cultural groups

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 basis for most counselor education multicultural courses
 focus on memorizing variations among groups may result in information overload and 

emphasizing stereotyping rather than uniqueness among groups
 universal perspective model

 a generalist approach
 assumption that developed counseling models can be successfully adapted to different cultural 

groups
 focuses on identifying similarities in human processes, regardless of ethnicity or cultural 

background
 may be too general to be of any real use to therapists

 General guidelines in selecting interventions
 assess whether the family’s difficulties are internal or external

 for internal problems, standard approaches may be employed
 for external problems, culture specific approaches may be best

 determine the family’s degree of acculturation
 “Americanized” families may respond to a broader range of interventions than families of new 

immigrants or only second generation
 explore the family’s knowledge of family therapy and their commitment to problem resolution

 for families with little knowledge of mental health services or with time pressures, educational
and/or direct, brief-theory driven approaches are recommended

 for other families, culture specific approaches are recommended
 identify what the family has tried before and what they prefer

 preference is an important element for establishing rapport and treatment effectiveness

 Role of the therapist
 intellectual and emotional exploration of biases and values is essential

 some majority culture therapists may minimize the impact of societal or cultural expectations on
minority families

 culturally skilled family therapists have the following characteristics
 aware and sensitive to their own cultural heritage and to valuing and respecting differences
 comfortable with differences between themselves and their clients
 sensitive to circumstances that may indicate the need to refer a family to another therapist (e.g., 

personal biases)
 knowledgeable of personal racist attitudes, beliefs, and feelings

 family therapists blend different styles of family therapy with the unique cultural or ethnic values of
the family

 family therapists should remain concurrently culturally sensitive and open to themselves and the
family

 provide support, when and where appropriate, for the expression of thoughts and emotions
 assist families to acknowledge and celebrate their heritage and marker events, especially those 

associated with specific life cycle stages
 assist families to be aware of, accept, and adjust to family life stages
 four major investments therapists must make (ESCAPE)
 E – engagement with families and process
 S-C – sensitivity to culture
 A-P – awareness of family potential
 E – knowledge of the environment

Key Terms
acceptance the therapist’s personal and professional comfortableness with a family.

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acculturation the modification of a culture as a result of coming into contact with another culture. In many
instances, minority cultures incorporate many traditions and mores of majority cultures in attempts to “fit in.”

acculturation gap different rates of acculturation between immigrant parents and U.S.-raised children that
complicates the normal generation gap. The results of this gap may result in greater misunderstandings,
miscommunications, and eventual conflicts among family members than would otherwise happen.

commitment ambiguity a situation usually in gay and lesbian couple relationships where one partner is not sure
about his or her place in the affiliation.

culturally encapsulated counselors professional therapists who treat everyone the same and, in so doing, ignore
important differences.

culture the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.
cultural competency sensitivity to such factors as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual 

orientation as well as the ability to respond appropriately in a therapeutic manner to persons whose cultural
background differs one’s own. 

culture-specific model of multicultural counseling a model of counseling that emphasizes the values, beliefs, and
orientation of different ethnic cultural groups

ESCAPE an acronym that stands for four major investments therapists must make: (1) engagement with families
and process, (2) sensitivity to culture, (3) awareness of families’ potentials, and (4) knowledge of the
environment.

Hispanic or Latino a person born in any of the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas (Latin America),
Puerto Rico, or the United States who traces his or her ancestry to either Latin America or to Hispanic people
from U.S. territories that were once Spanish or Mexican.

home-based therapy a method of treatment that requires family therapists to spend time with families before
attempting to help them.

institutional barrier any hardship that minority populations must endure to receive mental health services, such as
the inconvenient location of a clinic, the use of a language not spoken by one’s family, and the lack of
diversified practitioners.

intercultural couple individuals who elect to marry outside of their culture
multicultural a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation.
racism discrimination or prejudice based on race.
systematic change agent the role a therapist takes when he or she tries to intervene on behalf of families in 

unhealthy and intolerant systems.
universal perspective model of multicultural counseling a model of counseling that assumes that counseling 

approaches already developed can be applied with minor changes to different cultural groups. Thus, cultural
differences are recognized from a family systems perspective.

WASPs white anglo-saxon protestants, often the group associated with the term “White.”
White a term that is sometimes generalized and used to describe any person with white skin who has European 

ancestory.
worldview the dominant perception or view of a specific group.

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Classroom Discussion
1. The two main approaches used in working with culturally diverse families, the culture-specific model and the 

universal perspective model. Both approaches have strengths and weaknesses. Debate the merits of each and
try and identify a ‘hybrid’ that might have greater utility and usefulness in working with culturally diverse
families.

2. The Hispanic/Latino population is the nation’s largest growing minority. Hispanic/Latino individuals prefer to
get to know someone as a person rather than assessing others based on external factors (e.g., occupation,
socioeconomic status). What are some strategies and/or things you would do or say to develop a trusting
relationship with a Hispanic/Latino family that respects this cultural preference?

3. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Arab Americans have suffered negative fallout, tension, distrust,
and both overt and covert discrimination. In addition, Arab American culture is very different in many ways
from North American culture. What are your biases, values, and beliefs about Arab Americans and working
with Arab American families? How would/could you address any issues which might limit your effectiveness
with this population?

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Multiculturalism is

A. a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation
B. a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
C. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
D. the dominant perception or view of a specific group

2. Culture is
A. a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation
B. a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
C. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
D. the dominant perception or view of a specific group

3. Ethnicity is
A. a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation
B. a family, tribe, people, or nation belonging to the same stock
C. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
D. the dominant perception or view of a specific group

4. _____ is a term used to describe some counselor’s tendency to treat everyone the same and make mistakes in
so doing.
A. systematic change agent
B. WASP
C. culturally encapsulated
D. culturally diverse

5. In treating gay and lesbian couples and families, it is important to be aware of
A. internal and external issues

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B. extended family involvement
C. local, state, and national laws
D. all of the above

6. In African American families, _____ has been an essential element for survival.
A. an emphasis on social stability and collectivity
B. a collectivistic culture
C. a strong emphasis on self-discipline, order, social etiquette, and hierarchy
D. the family

7. Although utilization rates for individual therapy are _____ among African Americans, they are _____ for
family therapy.
A. high, low
B. low, high
C. about the same for each

8. For African American families, _____ approaches may offer the greatest benefit.
A. problem focused and multigenerational
B. brief therapy
C. structural family therapy combined with traditional healing modalities
D. strengths based

9. _____ families place a high value on education.
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. American Indians/Alaska Natives

10. Some cultural groups, such as Hispanic/Latino and American Indians/Alaska Natives, place a strong
emphasis on _____, which refers to viewing accomplishments as being dependent on the outcomes of others.
A. rugged individualism
B. machismo
C. family leadership and authority
D. collectivism

11. Which cultural group prefers to get to know someone as a person rather than assessing others based on
external factors?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. American Indians/Alaska Natives

12. Which cultural group tends to be physically expressive (e.g., gesturing while they talk)?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. American Indians/Alaska Natives

13. Which cultural group tends to have a visual emphasis in their languages (e.g., the verb ‘to learn’ is a
combination of the verbs ‘to see’ and ‘to remember’)?
A. African American
B. Asian American

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C. Hispanic/Latino
D. American Indians/Alaska Natives

14. Indirect forms of questioning and open-ended questions work best with which cultural group?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. American Indians/Alaska Natives

15. In which cultural group is the father the undisputed head of the household?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. Arab American

16. Which of the following cultural groups is high context, rather than low context as found in most North
American society?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. Arab American

17. Strengths based approaches are most effective with which cultural group?
A. African American
B. Asian American
C. Hispanic/Latino
D. Arab American

18. “WASP” values, often equated with “White” ideals, include all the following except:
A. rugged individualism
B. emphasis on honor and shame
C. mastery over nature
D. competitiveness

19. The model used in most counselor education multicultural courses is
A. intercultural model
B. universal perspective model
C. culture-specific model
D. ESCAPE

20. In all forms of family therapy with culturally diverse families, it is essential for family therapists to:
A. memorize variations among cultural groups
B. utilize standard approaches
C. make assumptions in order to generalize treatment among cultural groups
D. explore personal biases and values

True/False Questions

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1. Although American society has been diverse since its beginnings, little focus was placed on multiculturalism
until the 1970s and 1980s.
True ___ False ___

2. Sensitivity, experience, acceptance, ingenuity, specificity, and intervention are appropriate treatment goals for
most culturally diverse families.
True ___ False ___

3. Family therapists may be at an initial disadvantage in working with culturally diverse groups because the field
of marriage and family therapy reflects a predominant European American bias.
True ___ False ___

4. A strong belief in the institution of marriage has resulted in more African Americans marrying today than at
any time in history.
True ___ False ___

5. Assessing for levels of acculturation is important in working with culturally diverse families.
True ___ False ___

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Chapter 5: Working with Culturally Diverse Families
Answer Key

Multiple Choice
1. A. a term used to refer to the cultural groups within a region or nation
2. C. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
3. C. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group
4. C. culturally encapsulated
5. D. all of the above
6. D. the family
7. A. high, low
8. A. problem focused and multigenerational
9. B. Asian American
10. D. collectivism
11. C. Hispanic/Latino
12. C. Hispanic/Latino
13. D. American Indians/Alaska Natives
14. D. American Indians/Alaska Natives
15. D. Arab American
16. D. Arab American
17. D. Arab American
18. B. emphasis on honor and shame
19. C. culture-specific model
20. D. explore personal biases and values

True/False
1. T
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T

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