Ch. 10 Cultural Diversity - Key Terms
Acculturation
the process of learning the beliefs and behaviors of a dominant culture and assuming some of the characteristics, does occur
Agnostic
an individual who believes that the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved
Atheist
a person who does not believe in any deity
Bias
a preference that inhibits impartial judgment
Cultural assimilation
requires that the newly arrived cultural group alter unique beliefs and behaviors and adopt the ways of the dominant culture
Cultural diversity
the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society
Culture
the values, beliefs, attitudes, languages, symbols, rituals, behaviors, and customs unique to a particular group of people and passed from one generation to the next
Ethnicity
a classification of people based on national origin and/or culture
Ethnocentric
individuals who believe that their cultural values are better than the cultural values of others
Extended family
includes the nuclear family plus grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
Holistic care
care that provides for the well-being of the whole person and meets not only physical needs, but also social, emotional, and mental needs
Matriarchal
the mother or oldest female is the authority figure
Monotheist
believes in the existence of one God
Nuclear family
consists of one or two parents and a child or children
Patriarchal
the dominant male will make most health care decisions
Personal space
describes the distance people require to feel comfortable while interacting with others
Polytheist
worship and believe in many gods
Prejudice
a strong feeling or belief about a person or subject that is formed without reviewing facts or information
Race
a classification of people based on physical or biological characteristics such as the color of skin, hair, and eyes; facial features, blood type, and bone structure
Religion
an organized system of belief in a higher power
Sensitivity
the ability to recognize and appreciate the personal characteristics of others
Spiritually
defined as the beliefs individuals have about themselves, their connections with others, and their relationship with a higher power; an individual’s need to find meaning and purpose in life
Stereotyping
an assumption is made that everyone in a particular group is the same
Transcultural health care
based on the cultural beliefs, emotional needs, spiritual feelings, and physical needs of a person, can be used to describe this method of holistic care