Cultural Perspectives In Psychology

Center:

Barcelona

Program(s):

Barcelona - Liberal Arts & Business [1]

Discipline(s):

Psychology

Course code:

PS 410

Terms offered:

Fall

Spring

Credits:

Language of instruction:

English

Instructor:

Karen Smyth

Description:

The primary aim of this course is to provide the student, who has a strong background in psychology, the possibility to explore current issues in psychology from a cultural perspective. Two specific topics are viewed through cultural lenses: firstly, the issues surrounding counselling and therapy in an increasingly multicultural society, and secondly, the role of culture in intimate partner violence (IPV) internationally. These topics have been selected as relevant and pertinent issues to reflect on in the Catalan and Spanish cultural contexts.

The third section of the course deals with cultural transitions. The students are provided with the tools to understand the psychological aspects of the study abroad experience in the context of current research in the field of cultural transitions. This course focuses on both the psychological aspects of cultural transitions and the methodological approaches employed to gain understanding of study abroad students in cultural transition. This topic has been selected as it permits the students to critically appraise the research in their capacity as a study abroad psychology student experiencing cultural transition.

The unique approach taken in this course should both complement and enrich the students’ experience as sojourners and cultural learners, living and studying in a new culture, on both an academic and personal level. (3 credits)

Prerequisites:

Major or minor in psychology

Attendance policy:

Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, the students are able to:

· demonstrate a clear understanding issues in counselling and therapy of a range of culturally diverse clients;

· identify barriers to successful multicultural counselling and therapy;

· analyse case studies of culturally diverse clients;

· analyse the role culture plays in intimate partner violence (IPV) and compare and contrast this role in various cultural contexts, including the Spanish context.

· critically assess approaches used in researching cultural transitions, specifically study abroad students

Method of presentation:

•    Guest Speakers: Students have the opportunity to hear firsthand from practitioners in the field.
• Lectures: Lectures provide the students with an opportunity to gain an overview of the course content and to clarify issues.
•    Class discussion: The aim of class discussions is to provide the student with a more holistic view.
They offer the student the opportunity to argue their views and hear the perspective of other students on selected topics.
•    Reader: The reader is compiled of a selection of key academic readings, chosen with the aim of
providing a general understanding of the subject matter.
• Reading guides: These are provided, where appropriate, to aid the student in focussing on the most relevant information.
•    Student presentations: Students are asked to present the outlines of their proposed academic
papers. Presentations provide the student presenting with the opportunity to develop oral presentation skills and to receive constructive feedback from their peers and professor.
•    Film viewing: Watching a film with a film guide and questions to answer provides specific, although
subjective, material to examine the complexities of the topic.
• Case studies: Case studies are used to illustrate both the role of culture in therapy and the complexities of IPV, in order to stimulate discussion.

LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English

Required work and form of assessment:

Class participation (15%); academic paper (25%); oral presentation (10%); mid-term exam (25%); final exam (25%).

· Participation: Active participation throughout the course is expected of each student. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned reading, contribute to class discussion and be well prepared to answer questions.

· Exams: There will be two exams, a mid term exam and a final exam.

· Presentation: Each student will present the outline of their academic paper on their chosen area of the course material.

· Academic paper: An academic paper which deals with a specific area of the course material, chosen by the student, must be submitted

content:

Session 1: Introduction to the course

Session 2: Introduction to psychology and culture. Locating culture in the broad scope of psychology Brislin, R. (2000) Conceptualising culture and its impact. In Understanding Cultures Influence on Behaviour: 1-13 New York Wadsworth Publishing.

Ishii, S., Klopf, D. & Cooke, P (2006). Our Locus in the Universe: Worldview and Intercultural Communication. In L.A. Samovar, R.E. Porter & E.R. Mc Daniel (eds.). Intercultural Communication: A reader: 32-38; Thomson Wadsworth

Session 3: Culture and Therapy: What is psychotherapy? Hobbs, R. (2007). Psychotherapy applications. In C. Lister-ford (ed.). A Short Introduction to Psychotherapy: 32-48; Sage Publications Ltd London.

Frank J.D. & Frank, J. B. (1993) Persuasion and Healing: A comparative study of psychotherapy:34-44. Baltimore, Maryland, The John Hopkins University Press

Session 4: Culture and Therapy: Ways of viewing mental health Swartz, L. (1998). Looking at culture and mental health. Culture and Mental Health. A Southern African View: 8-24; Capetown, South Africa: Oxford University Press

Session 5: Culture and Therapy: Issues in multicultural counselling and Therapy Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) The super ordinate nature of multicultural counselling and therapy. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice: 29-52; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Session 6: Culture and Therapy: Barriers to Multicultural counseling and therapy Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Barriers to Multicultural counseling and therapy. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice :133-154; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Session 7: Culture and Therapy: Ethnic minority and Majority Therapists Perspectives Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Minority group therapists: Working with Majority and other minority clients. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice: 317-327; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Nezu, Arthur, M. (2010) Cultural Influences on the process of conducting psychotherapy: Personal Reflections of an ethnic minority psychologist. Psychotherapy: 169-176; Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol. 47(2)

Session 8: Culture and Therapy: Counselling and Therapy with Racial /Ethnic minorities Taylor, B., Gambourg, M.B., Rivera, M. & Laurenao, D. (2006) Constructing Cultural Competence: Perspectives of family therapists working with Latino Families. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 34:429-445.

Session 9: Culture and Therapy: Counselling and Therapy with Immigrants and with Refugees Thomas, A.J. & Schwarzbaum, S.E. (2006) Culture and Identity. Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists:143-158; Thousand Oaks California. Sage Publications Inc.

Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Counselling Refugees. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice:431-439;. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Session 10: Culture and Therapy: Application in the Spanish context-guest speaker

Session 11: Midterm review

Session 12: Midterm exam

Session 13: Class Presentations 1

Session 14: Class presentations 2

Session 15: Introduction to Intimate Partner Violence Barnett, O. Miller-Perrin, C.L. & Perrin, R. (2011) History and definition of Family Violence. Family Violence across the Lifespan. An Introduction: 1-21. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications

Session 16: Intimate Partner Violence in the Spanish Context Ruiz-Perez, I., Plazaola-Castaño, J. & Lozano, M. & the Gender Violence Study Group (2006) How do women in Spain deal with an abusive relationship? Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, 60:706-711

Ruiz-Perez, I., Plazaola-Castaño, J. & Lozano, M. (2007) Physical Health Consequences of Intimate partner violence in Spanish women. European Journal of Public Health, Vol 17, No.5, 437-443.

Session 17: Cultural factors in disclosure of intimate partner violence Ahrens, C.E, Rios-Mandel, L.C., Isas, L., Lopez, M. (2010) Talking about interpersonal violence: Cultural Influences on Latinas’ identification and disclosure of assault and intimate partner violence. In Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy Vol. 2 (4) 284-295.

Montalvo-Liendo, N. (2009) Cross-cultural Factors in disclosure of intimate partner violence: an integrated review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 65 (1), 20-34

Session 18: Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence Bollaín, Icíar (2003). Te doy mis ojos. Spain. Alta Films.

Session 19: Intimate partner violence in immigrant communities Menjivar, C. Salcido, O. (2002) Immigrant women and domestic violence: Common experiences in different countries. Gender and Society 16:898-920

Session 20: Intimate partner violence: Focus on Spain: Guest Speaker.

Session 21: Perspectives on Study Abroad Students Shaffer, M. A.; Harrison, D.A.; Gregersen, H.; Black, J. S.; Ferzandi, L. A. (2006) You can take it with you: Individual differences and expatriate effectiveness. [2] Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 91(1), pp. 109-123

Berno, T. & Ward, C. (2005) Innocence Abroad: A pocket guide to Psychological Research on Tourism. American Psychologist, Vol. 60 (6), Sep. :593-600

Session 22: Perspectives on Study Abroad Students Pitts, M.J. (2009) Identity and the role of expectations, stress, and talk in short term student sojourner adjustment: An application of the integrative theory of communication and cross cultural adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Vol. 33 (6):450-462

Pederson, E.R., Larimar, M.E. & Lee, C. (2010) When in Rome: Factors associated with changes in drinking behaviour among American college students studying abroad. Psychology of Addictive Behaviours Vol. 24 No. 3, 535- 540.

Session 23: Perspectives on Study Abroad Students Puukari, S., Leung, S.A., Chan, E.P.O. & Cushner, K. (2008) Case Incident 6: Establishing a sense of belonging: 81-97. In N. Authur & P. Pederson (Eds.) Case Incidents in counselling for international transitions. Alexandria, V.A.,US: American Counselling Association

Christofi, V. & Thompson, C.L. (2007) You cannot go home again: A phenomenological investigation of returning to the sojourn country after studying abroad. Journal of Counselling & Development Vol. 85 Issue 1: 53-63.

Session 24: Review of course

Required readings:

Ahrens, C.E, Rios-Mandel, L.C., Isas, L., Lopez, M. (2010) Talking about interpersonal violence: Cultural Influences on Latinas’ identification and disclosure of assault and intimate partner violence. In Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy Vol. 2 (4) 284-295.

Barnett, O. Miller-Perrin, C.L. & Perrin, R. (2011) History and definition of Family Violence. Family Violence across the Lifespan. An Introduction: 1-21. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications

Berno, T. & Ward, C. (2005) Innocence Abroad: A pocket guide to Psychological Research on Tourism. American Psychologist, Vol. 60 (6), Sep. :593-600

Bollaín, Icíar (2003). Te doy mis ojos. Spain. Alta Films.

Brislin, R. (2000) Conceptualising culture and its impact. In Understanding Cultures Influence on Behaviour: 1-13 New York Wadsworth Publishing.

Frank J.D. & Frank, J. B. (1993) Persuasion and Healing: A comparative study of psychotherapy:34-44. Baltimore, Maryland, The John Hopkins University Press

Hobbs, R. (2007). Psychotherapy applications. In C. Lister-ford (ed.). A Short Introduction to Psychotherapy: 32-48; Sage Publications Ltd London.

Menjivar, C. Salcido, O. (2002) Immigrant women and domestic violence: Common experiences in different countries. Gender and Society 16:898-920

Montalvo-Liendo, N. (2009) Cross-cultural Factors in disclosure of intimate partner violence: an integrated review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 65 (1), 20-34

Nezu, Arthur, M. (2010) Cultural Influences on the process of conducting psychotherapy: Personal Reflections of an ethnic minority psychologist. Psychotherapy:169-176; Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 47(2)

Pederson, E.R., Larimar, M.E., & Lee, C. (2010) When in Rome: Factors associated with changes in drinking behaviour among American college students studying abroad. Psychology of Addictive Behaviours Vol. 24 No. 3, 535- 540

Pitts, M.J. (2009) Identity and the role of expectations, stress, and talk in short term student sojourner adjustment: An application of the integrative theory of communication and cross cultural adaptation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Vol. 33 (6):450-462

Puukari, S., Leung, S.A., Chan, E.P.O. & Cushner, K. (2008) Case Incident 6: Establishing a sense of belonging: 81-97. In N. Authur & P. Pederson (Eds.) Case Incidents in counselling for international transitions. Alexandria, V.A.,US: American Counselling Association

Ruiz-Perez, I., Plazaola-Castaño, J. & Lozano, M. & the Gender Violence Study Group (2006) How do women in Spain deal with an abusive relationship? Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, 60:706-711

Ruiz-Perez, I., Plazaola-Castaño, J. & Lozano, M. (2007) Physical Health Consequences of Intimate partner violence in Spanish women. European Journal of Public Health, Vol 17, No.5, 437-443.

Shaffer, M. A.; Harrison, D.A.; Gregersen, H.; Black, J. S.; Ferzandi, L. A. (2006) You can take it with you: Individual differences and expatriate effectiveness. [2] Journal of Applied Psychology, Vol 91(1), pp. 109-123

Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Barriers to Multicultural counseling and therapy. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice :133-154; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Counselling Refugees. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice:431-439;. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) Minority group therapists: Working with Majority and other minority clients. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice: 317-327; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2008) The super ordinate nature of multicultural counselling and therapy. In Counselling the culturally diverse: theory and practice: 29-52; Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Swartz, L. (1998). Looking at culture and mental health. Culture and Mental Health. A Southern African View: 8-24; Capetown, South Africa: Oxford University Press

Taylor, B., Gambourg, M.B., Rivera, M. & Laurenao, D. (2006) Constructing Cultural Competence: Perspectives of family therapists working with Latino Families. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 34:429-445.

Thomas, A.J. & Schwarzbaum, S.E. (2006) Marie Luz´s story. In Culture and Identity. Life Stories for Counselors and Therapists: 143-158; Thousand Oaks California. Sage Publications Inc.