Introduction
Communication and interaction are the main characteristic features in the modern world. People got used to communication via various devices, the development of the innovative technologies and the world discoveries help people remain in contact with people all over the world. Therefore, the problem of the multicultural communication has become urgent.
People from different countries go to other countries in the world with different purposes, however, communication is an inevitable part either of work of rest. Therefore, the aspects of the multicultural psychology have become important. Most of the biggest cities in the world are multicultural as people from all over go there to get job, therefore, it is important to avoid multicultural problems.
Racism and other issues are almost eliminated in the world, however, there are some specific cases when aggression and discrimination has remained. Therefore, living in the modern world, multicultural psychology has become an important subject for discussion due to the modern tendencies and changes in the contemporary world where multicultural psychology has easily become a subspecialty of psychology.
Definition of the multicultural psychology
Multicultural psychology deals with racial, cultural and ethnic diversity and human behavior which deal with some specific aspects of those notions. Multicultural psychology is not just an intellectual process, “it encompasses work in social advocacy and expresses profound moral commitments to the ideals of tolerance, human rights, and social justice” (Hill, & Kral, 2003, p. 118).
Many cultural beliefs and considerations influence human behavior. Trying to understand the specific nature of multicultural psychology, it is possible to compare and contrast multicultural psychology with multicultural psychology. The main purpose of multicultural psychology is politically prejudiced while cultural psychology is not. Multicultural psychology aims to establish plural psychological standards while cultural psychology works with simple ones.
Moreover, multicultural psychology teaches people to interact with all nations in the world disregarding their specific identities. Modern world has changed, racial discrimination is the problem which is to be eliminated, therefore, multicultural psychology should become a leading subspecialty of psychology to make sure that the issue is under supervision and in case problems occur there is always a discipline which may help.
A brief history of multicultural psychology
Trying to define multicultural psychology, it is important to mention the documents which promoted the official creation of the multicultural psychology discipline. Multicultural psychology has been officially defined by the American Psychological Association’s 2002 Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (has been in effect since June 1, 2003) and the Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, and Organizational Change for Psychologists (May, 2003).
These two documents have defined the notion of the multicultural discipline and have created the directions in treating this issue (American Psychological Association, 2005). Even though the features of the multicultural psychology may be seen in ancient Greece, where people of different cultures had to get alone, the professional development of the discipline and the detailed consideration of the problem has become possible in 2003 when the issue was defined and the specific problems of the discipline concerned.
A rationale for the establishment of multicultural psychology as a subspecialty of psychology
There are a lot of various aspects and reasons which helped multicultural psychology become a subspecialty of psychology. One of the first rationales is the development and changes in the world. Multicultural interactions have become so frequent that it is impossible to ignore the issue any more. International business is flourishing.
More and more companies invite the workers from other countries to make sure that their staff is highly professional and gathers the most qualified workers of the sphere.
More possibilities are opened before students who have an opportunity to study abroad. International colleges of different countries readily open their doors to those who want to get knowledge. Moreover, the Internet possibilities help those who do not have an opportunity to leave their countries study abroad (Newell, Nastasi, Hatzichristou, Jones, Schanding, & Yetter, 2010).
Therefore, multicultural psychology has become a subspecialty of psychology due to the great many of cases connected with racial, ethnical and cultural interactions. Even though discrimination is almost eliminated cultural shock and other related problems may appear and the opportunity to deal with the issues is important.
Conclusion
Therefore, it may be concluded that the modern world has created many supportive criteria according to which multicultural psychology has become a part of the psychology.
The occurred changes have created the specific discipline which, according to its history of development, may be viewed as not only a subspecialty of psychology, but as a separate discipline due to the great number of issues it has to affect. Multicultural psychology is a specific field of knowledge which has been created on the basis of the real world situation, however, which requires additional theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in the fields where problems exist.
Having considered the definition of multicultural psychology in detail, the history of its development and the rationale for the establishment of multicultural psychology as a subspecialty of psychology, it may be concluded that the discipline is in demand due to its urgency and contemporary usage.
Reference List
American Psychological Association. (2005). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct 2002. Retrieved from
Hill, D. B., & Kral, M. J. (2003). About psychology: Essays at the crossroads of history, theory, and philosophy. New York: SUNY Press.
Newell, M. L., Nastasi, B. K., Hatzichristou, C., Jones, J. M., Schanding, G. T. Jr., & Yetter, G. (2010). Evidence on multicultural training in school psychology: Recommendations for future directions. School Psychology Quarterly, 25(4), 249-278.