MULTI CULTURAL AWARENESS - BPS303
Home Study Multi Cultural Awareness Course
"Understand other cultures and diversity."
AIM
To develop your skills in culture, diversity and multicultural society.
CONTENTS
There are eight lessons in this module as follows:
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Cultural diversity
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Cultural self-awareness
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Prejudice and racism
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Working with culturally different clients
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Barriers to effective multi-cultural relationships
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Developing cultural competence
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Multicultural mental health issues
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Shortcomings of Contemporary Counselling Theories and Future Developments
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
AIMS
- Develop an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity;
- Explain the cultural awareness of the self through verbal and non-verbal means;
- Explain the origins and influences of prejudice and racism;
- Explain the impact of culture when working with culturally different clients;
- Explain bias toward and barriers against effective multi-cultural relationships;
- Explain the fundamentals of developing and implementing cultural competence;
- Describe multi-cultural attitudes toward mental health issues.
CONTENT OF EACH LESSON
1. Cultural Diversity
Introduction
Defining culture
Elements of culture
Societal structures and processes
Subcultures
Key areas of cultural diversity
Cultural behaviour
Values
Social discourse
Ideology
Expectations
Problems ith culture
2. Cultural Self-Awareness
Introduction
Defining cultural self
Environmental influences
Family or social group
Definitions of selfPsychological influences
Human nature
Personal autonomy
Socio economic and political influences
Emphasis or minimisation of cultural diversity
Code switching
Physical environmental influences
3. Prejudice and Racism
Introduction
Ingroups or outgroups
Ethnocentrism
What is prejudice
Functions of prejudice
How we measure prejudice
Theoretical perspectives on prejudice
Stereotypes
Functions of stereotypes
Dangers of using stereotypes
Discrimination
Social discrimination
Racism
Institutional or structural racism
Perception
Perceptual change
Cognitive dissonance
Perceptual defence
Reducing prejudice
Changing stereotypes
Developing cultural sensitivity
Belonging to a dominant culture
4. Working with Culturally Different Clients
Introduction
Communicating across cultures
Principles of communication
Cultural differeces
Communicating intimate information
The culturally skilled worker
Conformity
Factors affecting conformity
5. Barriers to Effective Multi-Cultural Relationships
Abnormality
The counsellors culture
The clients culture
Individual differences
Cross cultural communication hurdles
Culture shock
Non verbal communication
Developing trust
Formal judgements
Culture and child development
Coping with change
6. Developing Cultural Competence
Introduction
Culturally competent service delivery
Culturally appropriate service
Culturally accessible service
Culturally acceptable service
Training for cultural change
Cross culture counselling in disaster situations
The role of family
Working with other cultures
7. Multicultural Mental Health Issues
Introduction
Problems with cultural difference in psychology
Cultural influences on mental health
Culture bound syndromes
Trance and possession disorder
Factors affecting grief and bereavement: social, psychological and cultural influences
8. Shortcomings of Contemporary Counselling Theories and Future Developments
Introduction
Culture shock
Stages in cultural shock and adjustment
Post traumatic stress disorder
Tratments for culture distress
Successful intercultural adjustment
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Learn what is meant by the term ‘culture’, and different cultural groups;Discuss ‘cultural diversity’ and identify problems associated with it;Discuss ‘intra-cultural’ and ‘inter-cultural’ contact to managing cultural diversity;Identify reasons that people and groups make intercultural contact;Explore how we communicate non-verbally;Identify ways (verbal and non-verbal) that we communicate our identification to a cultural group;In what ways a minority culture influence a dominant culture;Ways that people and groups adapt to other cultures;Explain the term ‘individualism-collectivism’;Define
- ‘ethnocentrism’
- ‘prejudice’
- ‘racism’
- ‘stereotype’
- ‘discrimination’
Explore the role of stereotyping by a dominant culture in perceived discrimination by an immigrant community;Discuss how prejudice and/or racism help a group or person feel more comfortable about other cultures;Define ‘culture shock’;Identify barriers to communication that exist in intercultural communication situations;Identify strategies to ensure effective communication with a person from another culture;Explore the influence of culture differences when providing helping or counselling services to clients;Explore ways that people from different cultures deal with psychological or communication problems such as conflict, depression, mental health etc.
Some Example Course Notes -
DEFINING CULTURE
Broadly speaking, culture is the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, technologies and products (artefacts) that a society holds, follows, uses or produces to live in their environment, and passes on from generation to generation.
Elements of Culture
Culture can be characterised by the following four elements:
Cultural traits – how the group communicates symbolically through its products, rituals, laws, social structures, economic systems etc.
Cultural patterns – wider, interrelated patterns of behaviour and interaction in which cultural traits may take on different meanings. An example is the pattern of grieving, which may involve such traits as certain behaviours, dress, foods eaten and not eaten, ways of communicating and use of space, in ways specific to grief situations.
Transmission of knowledge – how the group teaches its young culturally approved and valued ways of behaving, thinking and perceiving. This is a key factor in the continuation of culture, for it gives cultural shape and form to human activity. The simplest example is the learning of language. All human beings have an innate capacity and tendency to learn language, but the form in which that capacity develops, the language, tone and rhythm of a person’s communication are learned.
Societal structures and processes – how a group regulates, orders and limits group actions to maintain group cohesion and function. Societies represent culture in action, the everyday application of cultural traits, patterns and knowledge of a group through the group’s institutions, systems and norms. These can include family structures, appropriate dress and behaviour (manners), educational processes and institutions, processes of communication (media, censorship), how a society manages the health, activities or discourses of its members, how status is defined, gained or lost, legal and economic systems, enforcement, who can marry whom, age groups and a host of other factors.
Group cohesion relies on the transmission and assimilation of knowledge of social structures and processes, and of the norms and expectations that underlie them. The process by which the individual is acculturated (learns the patterns of his/her culture) is also called socialisation. Socialisation is largely carried out by the family, upon whom the child models much of its adult behaviour, but it also occurs as an effect of the individual’s wider social interactions in which the individual which behaviours are is rewarded (with approval, acceptance, inclusion, status, access to opportunities etc.) and which meet with social disapproval (punishment, ridicule, exclusion, low status, marginalisation, limited access etc.). Socialisation ensures the individual’s acceptance in the group and conformity to certain social expectations, which in turn ensures that social systems and norms are maintained.
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
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Who is ACS Distance Education?
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Distance Learning Multicultural Awareness Course
"Understand other cultures and diversity."
Gain more understanding of different cultures.
A must for anyone living and working our multicultural world.
Study in your own time at your own pace.
All tutors are highly qualified and experienced
When people of diverse cultural backgrounds interact the result may be either positive or negative.
Awareness of cultural differences is essential to the success of any multi cultural relationship. Whether business, political or personal; the first step toward success is to understand the way the other person thinks.
This course will be valuable for anyone needing to understand the psychology of different cultures and the interaction between persons from different cultural backgrounds.
