COGNITIVE THEORY & MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING Int

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 disorder

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ariability found among women; factors to consider include ethnic heritage, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, and sex role values. Understanding cultural schemas assists in the development of treatment goals. For example, the degree that a woman views her own belief system to be in harmony with others may be a therapeutic issue. To fully understand the client, the therapist must guard against projecting personal beliefs concerning sex role stereotypes (Freeman, Simon, Beutler, & Arkowitz, pp. 537-539, 543). An example of the successful use of cognitive restructuring is seen in the treatment of women living alone. For many women, living alone is thought of as a problem condition to be quickly resolved. A cognitive treatment program can help women make a commitment to a relationship with themselves, seek out positive opportunities of living alone, and identify lifestyle deficits to seek solutions. Cultural beliefs stating that women should be in relationships, that they need others for protection, and that they should focus personal energies on caring for others, result in anxiety for the woman living alone, and can be challenged with cognitive techniques (Freeman, Simon, Beutler, & Arkowitz, pp. 537-539, 543). O
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3589
Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page)