Behavior is influenced by attitudes and belief systems. It is also learned through family customs and experiences. This can be things such as when or if to use words like “ma’am” or “sir” when talking to a person in authority or elder. People from different communities will behave very differently, even if they are from the same “culture.” The following are examples. Many white Americans believe that being honest and forthcoming with police or social workers sounds reasonable. Their experience is that people in these roles are helpers. For other communities, it may seem less reasonable. People of color often see loss at the hands of these professionals in their communities. As another example, advocating in a planning meeting may come naturally if you were raised in families and communities where independence and self-assertion are valued. It may be almost impossible for people who are raised in families or communities where harmony and communal well-being is more important than individual happiness. It’s important to not assume what behavior means without context of culture.

Below is a list of behaviors and attitudes that are helpful and appropriate in some cultures and life circumstances. These can be seen as problematic from the dominant view of mental health services and supports.

• Being cautious or even suspicious of outsiders and professionals.
• Seeing clinical “boundaries” as coldness, lack of caring, or a sense of superiority.
• Being stoic and silent about distress or concerns.
• Expressing psychological distress through physical symptoms.
• Avoiding, misdirecting, or omitting information in conversations with authority figures or gatekeepers.
• Taking care of problems or issues yourself, without involving others.
• Allowing a family member to speak for you.

As professionals, it’s important to recognize that many things that seems normal or expected in the prevailing culture might seem shocking or unhelpful in another. It’s important to become more familiar with a wide variety of views. This can enhance your fluency in working with people from various worldviews. It can lead you to understand when you might want to dig deeper to understand behavior. When behavior is confusing or problematic, it’s important to try to explore potential drivers in non-threatening ways.

Rene is trying to support Reggie who has lived most his life as part of a gang. He helped him get a job after a short prison stay. Reggie’s supervisor reports to Rene that a coworker claims Reggie threatened him in the parking lot after work. When Rene talk to Reggie, he says the coworker had disrespected him by calling him out in front of others for being slow at his job. He also thinks this co-worker may have stolen his headphones. Reggie says: “You are making too big of a deal about this. He needs to know that he can’t treat me like that or I won’t get anything good out of this situation.” Rene tells Reggie that his behavior and attitudes are completely unacceptable and that he will lose support services and his job if anything like that happens again.

What implications do you see for this as far as person and family-centered practice? How does it affect the interaction today? How does it affect each person’s ability to work with professionals in the future or to receive quality person and family-centered services? What could be done differently from your view that might work better, if anything?