Research indicates that a person's culture has considerable impact on behavior, therefore making professional awareness of culture, diversity, and cultural competency essential for effective practice. Forensic populations are some of the most diverse of all treatment populations, thus making cultural competence an important attribute for those who administer treatment in forensic settings. In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes multicultural competency as a vital skill for clinical practice. Cultural awareness and competency are necessary for the skilled treatment provider in any setting and particularly in forensic settings.
A brief summary of the results of your self-assessment and the implications of these results in terms of your cultural awareness and competence. Describe your reaction to these results and explain how you plan to use this information to further develop your cultural competence and accomplish your professional goals
Cultural Competency and Treatment
You know by now that forensic treatment settings serve culturally diverse populations. In this course and academic program, the terms diversity and culture are broadly defined to include not only race and ethnicity but also religion, gender, physical ability, socioeconomic status, and age. You need to take all aspects of culture into consideration when you select treatment outcomes and approaches. Because culture is so ingrained, cultural-related issues may not be readily apparent to the treatment provider or the offender. However, culture impacts the treatment process whether recognized or not. In order to treat forensic populations effectively, the treatment provider must be aware of the impact of cultural considerations and bring cultural competencies to the treatment process
Cite the research article and state the specific diversity population that you researched.
Briefly summarize the research article and explain how the role of culture is addressed in the treatment of the specific forensic population in the study.
Analyze the role of culture in the treatment of forensic populations, in general. Use specifics from your selected research article to support your analysis.
Cultural Competence in Forensic Psychology Practice
Forensic Psychologists apply the principles of psychology - either as an experimental exploration or in an applied setting (in court, for the purposes of the justice system, in a penitentiary or for criminological application). All forms of practice of psychology are subject to ethical practice and require so as providing effective and responsible expertise, cultural competence. Cronin (n.d.) writes - "All psychologists are guided by the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, published by the American Psychological Association and recently revised in 2002. The ethical practice of forensic psychology is also informed by the Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists published in 1991." He admonishes however that in the practice of forensic psychology - psychologists frame their work based on the guidelines and limitations to their role set upon by the court or the justice system. With America being an adversarial justice practice, it means that experts, including psychologists, are often subjected to warring sides so as to push their agendas. fortunately, practicable guidelines and ethics allow for the practice of scientific neutrality. Still, experts are also subject to the possible bias embedded by their own unique socializations and cultural background which is something they must be on the lookout for, always.
One of the key things that forensic psychologists must practice dynamically, as if second nature, is reflexivity. They must question their opinions and conclusions always - so as to validate where their opinions are coming from. Is it based on facts or is it based on a cultural perspective? The idea is to push for a neutral and relative position so as to keep from the dangers of cultural and personal bias. One of the easier to practice tests is that developed by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). These are actually a series of tests that provide cultural competence checklists and allow for one's own cultural awareness a d cultural competence to be assessed. This is also web-based and can be found via this link:
The ASHA test has no right or wrong answers - it is an explorative document that allows for self-reflection. It is a test that can be taken by anyone, even non-members to ASHA. They have a special focus on clients/practitioners who deal with a culturally and linguistically diverse population.
I was surprised at my results. While I understand that people have different cultures and belief systems, I still hold most dear, when it comes to making judgments, my own core values and beliefs. I am also quite surprised to ...
Forensic psychologists expected to be multicultural competences are determined. Cultural competence in forensic psychology practices are analyzed.