1. Chapter 2 Culture Objectives: Define culture
Describe the difference between beliefs and values
State how culture is relevant to nursing practice
List and describe four common ethnic groups
Identify the basic components in a cultural assessment

2. Culture Terms Beliefs Values Norms Folkways Laws Mores Sanctions
Symbols
BELIEFS: the truths held by a culture’s people. One’s beliefs determine and influence how one deals with and views social problems and concerns. Beliefs also influence our behavior and concerns about health, illness, and death. Woman’s roles and child-rearing practices are also governed by cultural beliefs.
VALUES: DEEPLY EMBEDDED FEELINGS THAT DETERMINE WHAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD OR BAD, RIGHT OR WRONG. Cultural values give individuals direction and foundation for their decisions and actions. Values also provide a sense of stability and security.
NORMS: Socially accepted rules and behavior that guide an individual’s behavior and interactions within the culture. Norms also determine the role of each family member by age, gender, or ranking. Norms can be described in three ways:
Folkways – customs within the culture that determine how we greet each other (handshake, or kiss)
Laws – written policies supported and enforced by the government. Breaking the law carries specific punishment
Mores – moral beliefs that are strongly held by members of the culture. Failure to abide by these mores may lead to ostracism from the cultural group. (incest and child abuse are examples of strong beliefs or mores)
SANCTIONS: Social remedies for violating any of the norms. These may be positive – reward or honor for a person or negative – disapproval for violating the norm and may lead to imprisonment
SYMBOLS: Expressions such as language, gestures, or objects that people within a culture use to communicate with each other. Symbols can have different meanings among different cultures.

3. Race Racial group members share similar physical characteristics
Skin color
Hair texture
Facial shape
Body shape and size
Race and ethnicity can determine out socioeconomic status. Biological researchers once believed that race genetically isolated people. Recent research disputes this belief or racial isolation and supports a theory that there are no pure or distinct races because inbreeding and migration patterns throughout the ages have blended all people.
Theorists suggest that differences such as skin color are a result of or adaptation to physical elements such as climate and sun. In regions with warm climates, dark skin tones are the result of an increase in pigmentation and melanin and help protect the skin from the sun’s rays. In colder climates, less protections is needed; hence, skin 8is lighter in color.
Racial categories emphasize physical characteristics rather than cultural differences.
Children are not one with prejudice; Instead, they have a natural innocence and curiosity. This curiosity leads them to become aware of differences in race and color as early as age 3

4. Ethnicity Ethnic group members share Language Diet Customs
Music and dance
Family structure and roles
Religious beliefs or practices

5. Culture in Health Care
Transcultural nursing: a way of viewing patients as belonging to one world with many cultures
Ethnocentrism: belief that one’s cultural values and patterns of behavior are superior
Cultural relativism: refers to learning and applying another person’s cultural standard to each situation

6. Major U.S. Cultural Groups
Hispanic American
African American
European American
Asian American
Arab American

7. Cultural Assessment in the Health-Care Setting
Ethnic and racial origin
Language
Family roles
Use of communication
Beliefs about medicine, pregnancy, and healing
Dietary preferences

8. Cultural Barriers to Health Care
Language barriers
Lack of health insurance
Knowledge deficit
Reluctance to question health provider
Adherence to old cultural practices

9. Religion Religion defined Religion serves basic needs
Defines spirituality
Gives meaning to incomprehensible events
Gives sense of hope
Defines rituals and rites of passage
Reduces social isolation
Promotes healthy behavior
Encourages the family unit

10. Chapter Challenge Define ethnocentric
What areas are part of a person’s cultural assessment?
Name common cultural barriers to health care
List how religion meets a person’s basic needs