COGNITIVE THEORY & MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING
This research paper presents a critique of cognitive theory in terms of its utility for multicultural therapy. Cognitive theory is described. The cultural contexts discussed include African Americans, Latinos, Asians, women and elderly, bereaved, disadvantaged medical, and HIV-preventive populations. A critical analysis of readings with an integration of themes is offered.
Cognitive theory is based on the notion that an organism must process information in an adaptive manner in order to survive. The theory states that data is accumulated, coded, categorized, and evaluated by schemas. Schemata are defined as mental structures that help organize past experiences; they range from concrete to abstract and operate interactively with one another. Schemas are central values or core beliefs; they develop early in life as a result of environmental factors and are unique to each individual. The personality is shaped by schemas and based on cognitive structures. Cognititions are defined as those processes that encompass the organization of sensory input and the initiation of behavior. Psychological problems are viewed as stemming from faulty learning, incorrect inferences based on inadequate or incorrect information, and the lack of adequate distinction between imagination and reality. Fallacious thinking or cognitive distortions, contribute to feedback loops which support psychological disorders (Freeman, Simon, Beutler, & Arkowitz, 1989, pp. 21-13). For this theory to be applied to different cultures, beliefs or schemas and cognitive structures that are unique to each culture must be understood.
Cultural beliefs regarding health, illness, disability, and therapeutic rehabilitation are affected by cultural practices, values, and cognitive representations. Culture can be defined as a collection of beliefs, habits, and practices that explain reality for the individual. Cultural ...