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Jasmine Eaddy

The term "Cross-Cultural Psychology" refers to the "critical and comparative study of the influence of culture on the psychology of humans" (Shiraev & Levy, 2017). In the field of Cross-Cultural Psychology, researchers attempt to tease apart not just the distinctions across subgroups, but also the shared experiences and values that unite them. Cultural differences exist in every community. The truth is that no two civilizations are 100% the same or 100% different (Shiraev & Levy, 2017). Factors such as race, ethnicity, nationality, and religious belief could be considered in such studies.

My focus is on the Hispanic and Latino communities because of their interest in being the subject of study. To avoid missing, misinterpreting, or dismissing whatever information I may find, I intend to take a clear and unbiased look at this society.

As part of my assignment, the first thing I'll do is discuss how the group feels about its own independence. The idea that "no civilization is culturally homogeneous" is something I've come to understand, and it's not only something that applies to Hispanic and Latino culture; it's something that applies to any culture. There is no such thing as a "identical" or "completely different" culture (Shiraev & Levy, 2017). There is a great deal of variety within the Hispanic and Latino communities. Hispanics and Latinos undergo a culturally specific form of distress known as "attack of the nerves," characterized by out-of-control sobbing or shouting, crying, trembling, feelings of heat rising from the chest and head, dissociative experiences, and outbursts of verbal or physical hostility (Fortuna, 2020). Religion and family life are highly regarded in Hispanic and Latino societies. Traditional gender roles, childrearing practices, and the order of the family are highly valued.

In general, neither mental health nor the use of medication to treat mental illness are concepts that are valued by Hispanic and Latino communities. Most people of Hispanic or Latino descent either refuse to seek medical help when they are sick or, if they have been diagnosed, they refuse to take the medication that has been recommended to them. The Hispanic and Latino community's outlook on life is profoundly influenced by these ideas.

References

Fortuna, L. (2020). Working with Laino/a and Hispanic Patients. American Psychiatric Association.

Shiraev, E., & Levy, D. A. (2017). Cross-cultural psychology: Critical thinking and contemporary applications (6th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.