Cross Cultural Psychology. Multiculturalism and Therapy.

Multiculturalism and Therapy
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Multiculturalism and Therapy
The United States of America is home to varied cultures based on their immigrants and the arrival of new customs, beliefs, and religion. It has housed Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and Hispanics as well as Asians. Among Asians, Indian American is believed to be increasing drastically in number with the most powerful and economically sound group of the country. A recorded number of 44, 02,363 Indian Americans were living legally in the U.S. according to the 2017 consensus which has increased with a percentage of 38% since 2010. Having a growth rate of approximately 70%, Indian Americans become a large population that needs to be addressed in terms of psychological health (Ogunwole, 2010). Their willingness to stay in the country remains apt besides cultural differences and varied religious practices. This cultural shift may lead to mental health problems (Sue, Cheng, Saad & Chu, 2012) for which the U.S. needs to accustom itself for treatment.
History of Asian Indians in the U.S.
The first Indian immigrant to land in the U.S. dates back to the 1600s when East India Company offered Indian servants to the U.S. While the 1700s neutralized the immigration act, and awarded nationalities to their locals-only, the 1800s led to a massive influx of Indian immigrant in the States. Approximately 2000 Indian Sikhs migrated to California looking for better job opportunities and fleeing from their national issues. Due to the British colonialization, many landowners and farmers faced drought, food shortage, inability to crop for themselves and a dying food market. At the same time, they found opportunities in British Columbia to work in lumber mills and railroad industries, which led to increased immigration. The interaction between India and the U.S. ultimately paved the way for better relations between the West and East. While lesser numbers of immigrants remained unnoticed, their increase in the 1900s gave rise to problems where the locals became non-resilient to the foreigners. Sikhs and Hindus were ridiculed and marginalized due to increased economic competition. Gradually, Indians were deprived of nationalities and more focus on their skin color was made. Unable to justify them as ‘pure whites’, prejudice and discrimination occurred in all sects of life for them. When in 1917, immigrations were banned for Indians, many started entering the U.S. from the Mexican border thus increasing the illegal population in California.
Within a duration of 15 years, 1800 to 2000 Indians entered the U.S. illegally. These immigrations also forced the Indians to compromise on their customs and beliefs. Many were asked to shave their beards or cut their hair. The people started to become oppressed and a degraded group. As time progressed, Indians started to seek higher education and climb the ladder of development and success in maximum fields especially Information Technology. It's high-quality training in progressing subjects allowed them to enter and live in the U.S. legally even with granted citizenship (Scheckel, 1998). Despite being in high numbers and proving their identities, many Asian Indians in America still face tabooed mindsets where the local inhabitants remain biased about them (Leong, Park & Kalibatseva, 2013). Facing these changed attitudes at educational institutes, workplaces, local shops etc. has resulted in many psychological disturbances among the immigrants.
Family Structure and Impact on Treatment
An individual treated without the involvement of his/her family concerns may be equal to no treatment sought. The family acts as a major support system for people especially for the ones who are under stress. Familial support speeds up the healing process for the individual and thus may act as a major factor instilling positivity or negativity in the person (Karam, Blow, Sprenkle & Davis, 2015). Indian culture also pays immense importance on family values and relationships. Seeking the time and type of treatment may be greatly influenced by what one’s family’s views are and if they permit such a line of treatment (Flynn & Sangganjanavanich, 2015). Indian families usually have a joint family set up with extended family living together e.g. grandparents, paternal/maternal uncle and aunts which spreads the aetiology of a problem over a vast spectrum (Chadda & Deb, 2013). For example, an adolescent with behavioral problems may have to be assessed through a family perspective and how changes within the joint family can result in the adolescent’s betterment. Thus, the problems need to be addressed through all perspectives due to which home-based family therapy sessions are also focused in this culture (Thompson, Bender, Windsor & Flynn, 2009; Mirabla, 1989).
Being a predominantly patriarchal culture, Indians tend to give financial responsibilities to men while women are focused on the rearing of children and house chores. Due to a one-up one-down relationship system, much of this population also face the problems of effective and appropriate communication without a submissive attitude. Recently, in the U.S. many Indian students live in hostels or living-in facilities without the presence of their parents which have changed the dynamics of family-oriented decisions or impacts. Thus, for Indian Americans seeking treatment especially psychological has to be run through the families who then decide on whether it is necessary or not. Moreover, surpassing the taboo attached to psychological sessions may also have to be dealt with before they select the type of treatment.
Issues of Immigration, Acculturation, and Assimilation on Family Dynamics in Indian Americans
Immigration may be sought due to multiple reasons, the majority being unpleasant and unfavorable. It is usually considered an option when the current living scenarios become difficult and the migration area upholds more promising opportunities and facilities e.g. an individual who migrates due to war situation in his country or finds a better job opportunity in another country. Whatever the cause may be, immigration results in many positive and negative consequences. These negative results may be due to a complete cultural shift which might take an extended time and effort to get adjusted to.
Immigration widely affects families and their dynamics. Many family members are forced to be left behind while some or one member may immigrate. This results in a broken-down family and thus distorted and distant family relationships. Remaining away from loved ones can be a cause of further mental health problems in the immigrant e.g. when a young Indian adult migrates without his/her family, he faces issues in settlement i.e. food, housing, clothing, etc. Similarly, his/her family may start to remain worried about his health and safety as well as feel saddened by the physical distance between them. Even if complete families immigrate, they still face problems in adjusting to the new financial, residential, cultural, political and religious conditions. Many may face familial disputes where some may turn towards the new culture while some stick to their old ones. Family dynamics may also get disturbed by the communities they start to live in and how their neighborhood deals with them.
Moreover, children disturbed by their fellows’ attitudes in schools may also create family disruptions e.g. children who were accustomed to living in urban areas have to now live in a rural or countryside area may initially face adjustment issues. Immigration can also cause uncertainty in employment for many members of the family ultimately putting the financial burden on a single person. This can result in the loss of a previously maintained socio-economic status and also increase the incidence of stress, anxiety and depression in the breadwinners of the family. Lastly, marriages are greatly affected by immigration. Many spouses live away from their partners which affects their children and ultimately their marital relationship. The changes in family dynamics can thus call for psychological interventions when disturbances exceed the handling of each other.
Acculturati...