10/16/24, 2:00 Module tw o session tw o lectures guided
PM notes
Module two session two
Assimilation is a process by which a person gives up their original identity
and develops a new cultural identity by becoming absorbed into the more
dominant cultural group. Usually in assimilation, the dominant group imposes
their values on the minority group, with the assumption that the less
dominant group must change. In assimilation, the less dominant group does
not have a choice about what aspects of a culture it wishes to adopt. In the
case of biculturalism, the individual has a duel pattern of identification and
chooses which aspects of the new culture he/she wishes to adopt and which
aspects of their original culture he/she wishes to retain.
Ethnicity refers to a common ancestry that leads to shared values and
beliefs. It is transmitted over generations by the family and community.
Ethnicity is a powerful determinant of one's identity, known as ethnic
identity. Race is sometimes thought of in biological terms (for some people,
it has a biological meaning) based on the belief that there exist hereditary
physical differences among people that define membership in a particular
group.
The concept of culture is very broad and influences the shared beliefs,
values, and behaviors of a group. Cultural norms impact all aspects of life
including everything from interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and
child-rearing practices to gender roles, dietary preferences, communication,
dress, and religious practices. Cultural norms also significantly influence how
people make decisions about treatment preferences, medication adherence,
self-care, and perceptions of illness, which in turn affects nursing care and
health care delivery.
Causal belies about health: In non-Western cultures, explanatory models
of illness might include natural causes (e.g., bacteria, viruses, climate, and
environmental irritants), the social world (e.g., punishment for individual
behaviors or negative social interactions), or the supernatural world (e.g.,
ancestral spirits, deities). Western cultures are more likely to endorse solely
biomedical causation theories. The symptoms of an illness may vary
depending on how a culture understands and perceives the illness.
Throughout the world, depression and other mental illnesses are primarily
experienced in bodily terms of backaches, headaches, and fatigue, rather
than disturbances in mood and affect. It is currently believed that both
somatic and psychological forms of expressing emotions are equally valid
and meaningful, depending upon the sociocultural context. Cultural
differences in expression of emotion and the value a culture places on
modulating emotions can also result in differences in the way symptoms are
expressed. In some cultures, it
1|Page
about:blan 1/
k 20
,10/16/24, 2:00 Module tw o session tw o lectures guided
PM notes
is acceptable to verbalize that one is in pain, whereas in other cultures the
verbalization of pain is seen as a sign of weakness or lack of control.
The manifestation of illness can be unique for different cultures. These
“cultural idioms of distress” are a culture's collective societal way of talking
about disorders. Cultural syndromes are constellations of symptoms that co-
occur among cultural groups or in local communities and form a shared
knowledge and experience Taboos: In many cultures certain illnesses or
behaviors that may be characteristic of illnesses are highly stigmatized, and
are often not revealed to health care providers. A patient may deny the
existence of socially disapproved symptoms and/or decide not to seek
treatment. This is particularly true for mental illnesses, behavioral disorders
in children, sexually transmitted infections, and heritable and potentially fatal
illnesses.
There are several attributes related to the concept of culture, in other
words, conditions common to all cultures. These include that culture is
learned through families and other group members; culture is changeable
and adaptive to new conditions; and cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors
are shared by all within a group. Culture may be transmitted to individuals
during childhood and adolescence by the process of socialization or
enculturation. However, a culture is not limited to members who share the
same country of origin or ethnicity and may not be determined solely in
childhood, but may encompass any group who shares certain roles and
values, norms, and attitudes, sometimes referred to as subcultures.
Subcultures can include members of racial and ethnic minorities; people of
indigenous or aboriginal heritage; professions, such as nursing; people of
different socioeconomic levels, such as the “culture of poverty”
Language, rituals, customs (such as holiday celebrations), dietary practices,
and manner of dress are among the most overt attributes of culture that are
readily apparent to non–group members. Some of the more subtle attributes
of culture, such as values, relationship to authority, social interactions,
gender roles, and orientation towards the present or future, are probably the
attributes of culture that are most relevant to health care and
communication.
Individualism Versus Collectivism: This attribute places value on the
degree of closeness and the structure of social relationships, and whether
loyalties belong to immediate families or to the extended family or clan. The
differences in these interpersonal interactions can be thought of as
interdependent versus independent and are reflected in the concept of self.
2|Page
about:blan 2/
k 20
, 10/16/24, 2:00 Module tw o session tw o lectures guided
PM notes
Power distance is the acceptance of an unequal distribution of power as
legitimate or fair versus illegitimate from the point of view of the less
powerful. In cultures that value a more equal distribution of power, people
have the expectation that their opinions will be heard and equally valued.
People who are less powerful have the right to criticize those in power. In
contrast, in cultures in which a greater power distance is observed, people
are unlikely to overtly challenge or disagree with people in positions of
authority, because such power is the result of longstanding formal and
hierarchical arrangements.
Masculinity versus femininity describes how gender roles are distributed
and how greatly male and female roles differ. Some societies place greater
value on masculine attributes (as defined by Western culture), such as
achievement, material success, and recognition, versus more feminine
attributes, such as harmonious relationships, modesty, and taking care of
others. In some cultures only men can enact masculine roles, whereas in
other cultures gender roles are more flexible. In cultures with more fixed
gender roles, women are usually given the role of caretaker for aging
relatives and may suffer the stresses of caregiver strain. Long- versus short-
term orientation is the degree to which a culture is oriented to the future and
long-term rewards versus the degree to which a culture is oriented to the
past or present. Long-term oriented cultures favor thrift, perseverance,
and adapting to changing circumstances. Short-term oriented cultures are
oriented to the present or past and emphasize quick results; they favor
respect for tradition and fulfillment of social obligations, although status is
not a major issue in relationships and leisure time is important. Another
cultural dimension is religiosity, which varies according to how much
religion permeates one's day-to-day existence, and to what degree religious
practices can be separated from nonreligious practices.
The importance of culture and its influence on human behavior has not
always been an accepted theoretical premise. Theories of human behavior
have been dominated by the underlying premise of the “psychic unity” of
humankind, a theory that states that all human social behavior is derived
from evolution. Scientists who believe in these concepts claim that through
evolution and natural selection, certain genes in the species that enhance
survival are most likely to be passed down from one generation to the next
and these genes specify cognitive functioning and the manner in which
people perceive the world. Therefore, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions
develop universally and account for such diverse behaviors as favoring
relatives (i.e., altruism), creating and following rules, or adopting specific
beliefs about religion and warfare.
3|Page
about:blan 3/
k 20
PM notes
Module two session two
Assimilation is a process by which a person gives up their original identity
and develops a new cultural identity by becoming absorbed into the more
dominant cultural group. Usually in assimilation, the dominant group imposes
their values on the minority group, with the assumption that the less
dominant group must change. In assimilation, the less dominant group does
not have a choice about what aspects of a culture it wishes to adopt. In the
case of biculturalism, the individual has a duel pattern of identification and
chooses which aspects of the new culture he/she wishes to adopt and which
aspects of their original culture he/she wishes to retain.
Ethnicity refers to a common ancestry that leads to shared values and
beliefs. It is transmitted over generations by the family and community.
Ethnicity is a powerful determinant of one's identity, known as ethnic
identity. Race is sometimes thought of in biological terms (for some people,
it has a biological meaning) based on the belief that there exist hereditary
physical differences among people that define membership in a particular
group.
The concept of culture is very broad and influences the shared beliefs,
values, and behaviors of a group. Cultural norms impact all aspects of life
including everything from interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, and
child-rearing practices to gender roles, dietary preferences, communication,
dress, and religious practices. Cultural norms also significantly influence how
people make decisions about treatment preferences, medication adherence,
self-care, and perceptions of illness, which in turn affects nursing care and
health care delivery.
Causal belies about health: In non-Western cultures, explanatory models
of illness might include natural causes (e.g., bacteria, viruses, climate, and
environmental irritants), the social world (e.g., punishment for individual
behaviors or negative social interactions), or the supernatural world (e.g.,
ancestral spirits, deities). Western cultures are more likely to endorse solely
biomedical causation theories. The symptoms of an illness may vary
depending on how a culture understands and perceives the illness.
Throughout the world, depression and other mental illnesses are primarily
experienced in bodily terms of backaches, headaches, and fatigue, rather
than disturbances in mood and affect. It is currently believed that both
somatic and psychological forms of expressing emotions are equally valid
and meaningful, depending upon the sociocultural context. Cultural
differences in expression of emotion and the value a culture places on
modulating emotions can also result in differences in the way symptoms are
expressed. In some cultures, it
1|Page
about:blan 1/
k 20
,10/16/24, 2:00 Module tw o session tw o lectures guided
PM notes
is acceptable to verbalize that one is in pain, whereas in other cultures the
verbalization of pain is seen as a sign of weakness or lack of control.
The manifestation of illness can be unique for different cultures. These
“cultural idioms of distress” are a culture's collective societal way of talking
about disorders. Cultural syndromes are constellations of symptoms that co-
occur among cultural groups or in local communities and form a shared
knowledge and experience Taboos: In many cultures certain illnesses or
behaviors that may be characteristic of illnesses are highly stigmatized, and
are often not revealed to health care providers. A patient may deny the
existence of socially disapproved symptoms and/or decide not to seek
treatment. This is particularly true for mental illnesses, behavioral disorders
in children, sexually transmitted infections, and heritable and potentially fatal
illnesses.
There are several attributes related to the concept of culture, in other
words, conditions common to all cultures. These include that culture is
learned through families and other group members; culture is changeable
and adaptive to new conditions; and cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors
are shared by all within a group. Culture may be transmitted to individuals
during childhood and adolescence by the process of socialization or
enculturation. However, a culture is not limited to members who share the
same country of origin or ethnicity and may not be determined solely in
childhood, but may encompass any group who shares certain roles and
values, norms, and attitudes, sometimes referred to as subcultures.
Subcultures can include members of racial and ethnic minorities; people of
indigenous or aboriginal heritage; professions, such as nursing; people of
different socioeconomic levels, such as the “culture of poverty”
Language, rituals, customs (such as holiday celebrations), dietary practices,
and manner of dress are among the most overt attributes of culture that are
readily apparent to non–group members. Some of the more subtle attributes
of culture, such as values, relationship to authority, social interactions,
gender roles, and orientation towards the present or future, are probably the
attributes of culture that are most relevant to health care and
communication.
Individualism Versus Collectivism: This attribute places value on the
degree of closeness and the structure of social relationships, and whether
loyalties belong to immediate families or to the extended family or clan. The
differences in these interpersonal interactions can be thought of as
interdependent versus independent and are reflected in the concept of self.
2|Page
about:blan 2/
k 20
, 10/16/24, 2:00 Module tw o session tw o lectures guided
PM notes
Power distance is the acceptance of an unequal distribution of power as
legitimate or fair versus illegitimate from the point of view of the less
powerful. In cultures that value a more equal distribution of power, people
have the expectation that their opinions will be heard and equally valued.
People who are less powerful have the right to criticize those in power. In
contrast, in cultures in which a greater power distance is observed, people
are unlikely to overtly challenge or disagree with people in positions of
authority, because such power is the result of longstanding formal and
hierarchical arrangements.
Masculinity versus femininity describes how gender roles are distributed
and how greatly male and female roles differ. Some societies place greater
value on masculine attributes (as defined by Western culture), such as
achievement, material success, and recognition, versus more feminine
attributes, such as harmonious relationships, modesty, and taking care of
others. In some cultures only men can enact masculine roles, whereas in
other cultures gender roles are more flexible. In cultures with more fixed
gender roles, women are usually given the role of caretaker for aging
relatives and may suffer the stresses of caregiver strain. Long- versus short-
term orientation is the degree to which a culture is oriented to the future and
long-term rewards versus the degree to which a culture is oriented to the
past or present. Long-term oriented cultures favor thrift, perseverance,
and adapting to changing circumstances. Short-term oriented cultures are
oriented to the present or past and emphasize quick results; they favor
respect for tradition and fulfillment of social obligations, although status is
not a major issue in relationships and leisure time is important. Another
cultural dimension is religiosity, which varies according to how much
religion permeates one's day-to-day existence, and to what degree religious
practices can be separated from nonreligious practices.
The importance of culture and its influence on human behavior has not
always been an accepted theoretical premise. Theories of human behavior
have been dominated by the underlying premise of the “psychic unity” of
humankind, a theory that states that all human social behavior is derived
from evolution. Scientists who believe in these concepts claim that through
evolution and natural selection, certain genes in the species that enhance
survival are most likely to be passed down from one generation to the next
and these genes specify cognitive functioning and the manner in which
people perceive the world. Therefore, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions
develop universally and account for such diverse behaviors as favoring
relatives (i.e., altruism), creating and following rules, or adopting specific
beliefs about religion and warfare.
3|Page
about:blan 3/
k 20
