Social and Cultural Foundations

Macroculture

the dominant culture in a country

microculture

the smaller less dominant culture

acculturation

learning the behaviors and expectations of a culture

assimilation

becomes apart of the dominant macroculture

universal culture

we are all genetically and biologically similar

biological sameness

we all need air, food, and water

national culture

can determine our language, political views, and our laws

ecological culture

where factors such as earthquakes, floods, and food supply may influence our behavior

Ethnicity

characterized by national, religious, linguistic, or cultural attributes

Emic viewpoint

each client is an individual with individual differences

Etic viewpoint

humans are humans regardless of background and culture, focuses on clients all being the same

Autoplastic

implies the counselor helps the client internally change to fit his or her environment (change comes from within)

Alloplastic

When the client and counselor try to change or alter external factors in the environment (to help the client cope)

Low context communication

implies there will be a long verbal explanation

High context communication

relies on non-verbals that are readily understood by others in the culture

Androgynous/Androgny

notion that psychologically healthy people possess both masculine and feminine characteristics

Proxemics (spacial relations)

address the issue of personal space

Means test

determine whether a client is eligible for a social program or benefit such as temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)

Assimilation/Contrast Theory

client will assume counselor's statements are similar to own beliefs as more similar (assimilation error) and dissimilar attitudes as even more dissimilar (contrast error)

F.H. Allport

created the theory of social facilitation

social facilitiation

the presence of other person improves an individual's performance