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; it occurs slowly over a long period.
Cultural Assimilation:
The absorption of many cultures into the dominant culture; it requires that a newly arrived cultural group alter unique beliefs and behaviors and adopt the ways of the dominant culture.
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.
Personal Space
Often called territorial space; the distance people require to feel comfortable while interacting with others.
Sensitivity
The ability to recognize and appreciate the personal characteristics of others.
Agnostic
An individual who believes that the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved.
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.
Matriarchal
A family organization in which the mother or oldest female is the authority figure.
Polytheist
An individual who believes in and worships many gods.
Spirituality
: The beliefs individuals have about themselves, their connections with others, and their relationship with a higher power.
Atheist
A person who does not believe in any deity or god
Ethnicity
A classification of people based on national origin and/or culture.
Monotheist
An individual who believes in the existence of only one God.
Prejudice
To prejudge; a strong feeling or belief about a person or subject that is formed without reviewing facts or information.
Stereotyping
Occurs when an assumption is made that everyone in a particular group is the same; it ignores individual characteristics and "labels" an individual.
Bias
A preference that inhibits impartial judgment.
Ethnocentric
Individuals who believe that their own cultural values are better than the cultural values of others.
Nuclear Family
A family group that usually consists of one or two parents and a child or children.
Race
A classification of people based on physical or biological characteristics such as skin color, hair and eye color, facial features, blood type, and bone structure.
Transcultural Health Care:
A concept of care based on the understanding of various cultures and subcultures, and the integration of those beliefs when providing health care.
Cultural Diversity:
Differences based on cultural, ethnic, and racial factors
Extended Family:
A family group that includes the nuclear family plus grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Patriarchal
A family organization in which the father or oldest male is the authority figure.
Religion
An organized system of belief in a superhuman power or higher power.