Sociocultural Autobiography

Sociocultural Autobiography

At midterm, you will be asked to write a critical reflection of your sociocultural development in on each of the social identities we cover in class (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, religion, ability status). This includes 1) the development of your own social identities, 2) beliefs, attitudes and behaviors toward other social identities in this category, and 3) areas for growth pertaining to each of the social identities. Consider and explicitly connect how your identity development relates to theories and research presented in the course.

Purpose

A key phrase in the mental health field is “Therapist Know Thyself”. The importance of self-knowledge is critical in understanding your influence on others, and how others influence you. This assignment is designed to stimulate self-reflection on your life experiences, particularly pertaining to sociocultural identities. To develop a greater understanding of yourself and your relation to others, this assignment is designed to help you reflect on your own development, socialization, biases, and positionality across social identities. It also helps you bring to life the theories and research from the text by connecting with your own development

Task

● Write an autobiographical account of your social and psychological development concerning your understanding of each of the social identities covered in class (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, social class, sexuality, religion/spirituality, nationality, and mental and/or physical ability status). For each identity, please write about the following:

○ Reaction to difference: What you were taught/how you were socialized about each social identity (e.g., from peers, family, media, teachers, church, policy, cultural norms, etc.). In this discussion provide an authentic/honest reflection of your biases and assumptions of groups who are different from you and how these assumptions and biases have changed over time, if at all.

○ Understanding of self-identities: Discuss how YOU identify regarding the above social identities, how you came to identify this way, and what that identity means to you. In this reflection, indicate which identity(ies) are most salient to you and discuss your social location (i.e., your positionality regarding your social status as privileged/dominant or oppressed/targeted within each identity) and what this means to you.

● Cultural Competency reflection: Take a global self-assessment of your cultural competencies and cultural sensitivity. Based on your reflection throughout this paper, what areas of growth or biases do you want to work on? How might you address this in the course and beyond?

Grading Criteria

● Thorough self-reflection (30%): Reflects and writes about each of the social identities outlined in the assignment and considers socialization and experiences in depth.

● Risk taking (20%): Takes risks to expose vulnerabilities in writing and shares genuine experiences, reactions, and limitations, particularly pertaining to biases and assumptions.

● Complex thinking (20%): Integrates course theories and research with personal development. Considers intersectionality and/or ecological influences across social identities (e.g., experience as a White first generation woman and how that differs from others such as White first generation man, impact of laws or policies on personal development, etc.). Considers implications of power, privilege, and oppression on own identity and experiences.

● Motivation for growth (20%): Gave careful consideration of areas for improvement and provided thoughtful proposal on ways to enhance cultural competencies as a mental health professional.

● Communication (10%): You can write a paper or record your response: ○ If written: Writing is organized, uses topic sentences, introduction

and conclusion, and APA 7th edition. Papers should be approximately 8-10 pages.

○ If video recorded: answering all the questions and linking to course. Recordings should be approximately 25-30 minutes.

Rubric Sociocultural Autobiography 2021

Criteria Ratings Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Self Reflection

Reflects and writes about each of the social identities outlined in the assignment and considers socialization and experiences in depth.

4 pts

Exceeds Expectati ons

3 pts

Meets Expectati ons

2 pts

Needs Improvem ent

1 pts

Inadequ ate

0 pts

Missi ng

4 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Risk Taking

Takes risks to expose vulnerabilities in writing and

4 pts

Exceeds Expectat ions

3 pts

Meets Expectat ions

2 pts

Needs Improve ment

1 pts

Inadeq uate

0 pts

Miss ing

4 pts

shares genuine experiences, reactions, and limitations, particularly pertaining to biases and assumptions.

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Complex Thinking

ntegrates course theories and research with personal development. Considers intersectionality and/or ecological influences across social identities (e.g., experience as a White first generation woman and how that differs from others such as White first generation man, impact of laws or policies

4 pts

Exceed s Expect ations

3 pts

Meets Expect ations

2 pts

Needs Improv ement

1 pts

Inade quate

0 pts

Mis sin g

4 pts

on personal development, etc.). Considers implications of power, privilege, and oppression on own identity and experiences.

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Motivation for Growth

Gave careful consideration of areas for improvement and provided thoughtful proposal on ways to enhance cultural competencies as a mental health professional.

4 pts

Excee ds Expec tation s

3 pts

Meets Expec tation s

2 pts

Needs Impro vemen t

1 pts

Inade quat e

0 pts

Mi ssi ng

4 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome

Communication

If written: Writing is organized, uses topic sentences, introduction and conclusion, and APA 7th edition. Papers should be approximately 8-10 pages.

If video recorded: answering all the questions and linking to course. Recordings should be approximately 25-30 minutes.

4 pts

Exce eds Expe ctatio ns

3 pts

Meet s Expe ctatio ns

2 pts

Need s Impr ovem ent

1 pts

Inad equ ate

0 pt s

Mi ss in g

4 pts

Total Points: 20