• How and why is an appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity important to psychology?

Paragraph 2

• How does someone’s identification with a specific ethnic or cultural identity influence their social activity and adjustment? (such as, bell hooks' and Emma Watson's activism).

Instructions

• Write two paragraphs, one for each discussion question
• Due Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET

Guidelines
Discussion board posts are worth up to 25 points per week and will be graded according to the following guidelines:

• 20 points for initial response distributed as follows:
  • 10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
  • 5 points for correct citation, reference, and use of APA style
  • 5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• 5 points for a response post which is focused in nature and is at least 100 words in length

Grade Value - 20 Points

• 10 points for answering the initial post prompt completely
• 5 points for correct citation, reference and use of APA style
• 5 points for correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Please respond to the following writers-100 words min each:

Renee:

Discussion Questions

Ethnic and cultural diversity within the study of psychology is important. Psychology involves the study of the human mind. Humans come in all shapes, sizes, cultural backgrounds and ethnic diversities. To appreciate and become knowledgeable with these factors, will give people who study psychology the ability to do so as appropriately and accurately as possible when working with such diverse humans. As a psychologist, if you are unable to understand and appreciate the differences and similarities of other cultures and ethnic diversities, it would be difficult for you to effectively communicate and successfully work with people from those particular cultures and ethnic diversities. "Psychologists are called on to help people of all ethnic groups solve personal problems. Without knowledge of the history and cultural heritage of those groups, psychologists could not hope to understand the aspirations and problems of individuals from those groups." (Nevid & Rahtus, 2016. p. 12.)

Emma Watson and bell hooks both have education in literature and are passionate activists for feminism, equality and other various issues that have been concerning in our world. Emma has a background of acting, which has been described as male driven and gender biased. Gloria Watkins, or bell hooks as she prefers to use her pen name, has a background of racial segregation and discrimination. They both have become major activists in their time, in large part to their experiences and social activity. Growing up in these particular backgrounds and having these unfortunate experiences have led them to adjust in such a way that, they stand up and have become activists against the very things that they had experienced in their lives. Emma's identity in the Hollywood world was a big part of what encouraged her activism. bell's ethnic background and experiences within that, were the reasons for her to be encouraged into becoming an activist. Both women, whose identification within those particular settings have led them to be some of the most influential and important feminists and activists of our time. Both fighting for the end of gender bias and racial discrimination, among other inequalities still present in our world today. In my opinion they would be considered collectivists. "Collectivists tend to define themselves in terms of the group to which they belong and to give priority to the group's goals. They connect their identity with their social roles and obligations." (Nevid & Rathus, 2016. p. 12.)

Nevid, J. S., & Rathus, S. A. (2016). Psychology and the challenges of life: adjustment and growth (13th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

Preston:

The appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity is very important in psychology. Psychologists deal with a multitude of individuals from different ethnic backgrounds and different cultural norms. If the psychologist is not aware of these norms, or is not familiar with the individuals ethnic background, he or she will not be able to understand that individual, and therefore will be of little to no help. “Without knowledge of the history and cultural heritage of those groups, psychologists could not hope to understand the aspirations and problems of individuals from those groups” (Nevid & Rathus, 2016). It is also important for psychologists to know different ethnic backgrounds in order to be sensitive to their feelings, and understand their viewpoints on different topics. “How can psychologists understand African Americans or Latino and Latin Americans, for example, without being sensitive to the prejudice these ethnic groups have historically suffered” (Nevid & Rathus, 2016).

Individuals ethnic and cultural identity play a role in their social activity and adjustment to the new country they reside in because each culture is different. Individuals who travel to a new country may decide to stay one hundred percent true to their cultural norms and not adopt the cultural norms of their new country, and therefore have a harder time adjusting to the new country. Others may decide to adjust a little more by adopting some of the new cultural norms, while also staying true to their own cultural norms. For example, I am currently residing in Spain. I have been here for a little over three years. When I first got to Spain I did not try to learn the language, and tried to keep my habits and routines I had in America. It became clear, quickly, that I would have a hard time if I continued to be stubborn in my ways. Therefore, I started to learn Spanish, and adopting their cultural norms, but also keeping mine, which made adjusting to life here a lot easier. “Other things being equal, bicultural individuals seem to be the best adjusted” (Nevid & Rathus, 2016).

Reference:

Nevid, J. S., & Rathus, S. A. (2016). Psychology and the challenges of life: adjustment and growth (13th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.