Cultural Sensitivity

Over the last four decades, psychologists have become gradually, and with some controversy, more focused on the importance of cultural sensitivity in applied psychology, in theory, and in research. The examination of culture as an important aspect of human experience and behavior began with a few scattered commentators decrying the incompleteness and potentially damaging character of a monocultural psychology. This early work on cultural sensitivity has expanded to encompass the accreditation standards, publication standards, practice standards, and governance of the major professional associations in psychology. Although there is far from complete consensus on what constitutes cultural sensitivity, it is now widely accepted that attending to the cultural sources of human experience and behavior is important.

Keywords: culture; cultural differences; cultural dialogue; cultural psychology; cultural identity