Question

heritage consistency is beneficial because....

Answer 1

Heritage consistency is used to describe how much or how little a person’s lifestyle reflects his or her traditional culture. If one is very “consistent” with their heritage, then one maintains more of the core values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of one’s cultural heritage. If one is more “inconsistent,” then he or she deviates from that cultural heritage. Usually, the more one acculturates to American society, the less consistent they are with their original culture. Asking questions that reveal heritage consistency is an important means of zooming in on the individual patient’s experience which helps avoid stereotyping.Especially when working with immigrants and refugees, it is important to determine three key factors related to heritage consistency: socialization, acculturation, and assimilation into the dominant U.S. culture.

Socialization-The process of being raised within a culture and acquiring the characteristics of that group. Formal K-12 education in the U.S. is a key means of socializing children in our society.

Acculturation-This is the process of becoming a competent participant in the dominant culture. Acculturation is necessary to survival so it is involuntary. The degree to which one becomes acculturated and the speed of the process are affected by an individual’s circumstances and choices.

Assimilation –Very much like acculturation, assimilation refers to the extent of identification with the dominant culture. Beyond becoming a competent participant in the dominant culture, an assimilated person chooses to identify with the members of the dominant culture.

Along with the socio-economic factors of poverty, literacy, and health literacy, culturally responsive care takes into account the heritage consistency of individual patients within the context of family dynamics. In an effort to avoid applying cultural generalizations too rigidly, providers explore the indicators of cultural consistency with their patients from different cultural backgrounds to understand how closely each individual adheres to the traditional culture in which they were raised. Deviations in attitudes and life experiences affect each person’s health beliefs and behaviors including their ability and/or willingness to comply with the treatment plan their doctor recommends.