Multiculturalism Among Hispanics and Latinos: The Importance of Culture Over Racial Identity

Hispanics and Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. Based on this fact, it is clear that more research in psychology is necessary to adequately care for this expanding population. Yet the question remains: Can you objectively define and identify a Hispanic or Latino individual? Or do these labels exist for the sake of convenience in data collection? Through the perspective of cultural psychology, the lack of competency regarding intercultural variability in the Hispanic and Latino population is proposed as an oversight in the development of methods of psychotherapy and diagnostic criteria. With the increasing population of Hispanics and Latinos within the United States, multiculturalism competency should go beyond an ethical guideline and instead be considered required coursework in clinical psychology graduate programs.