64th Annual Conference

Thursday, March 8

Afternoon Workshops

2:45 P.M.-6:00 P.M.

Workshop 33

Beyond the Shroud of Difference: Celebrating Diversity While Finding Commonalities

Chairs:

Patricia Alford-Keating, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP,  Senior Staff Psychologist, Student Psychological Services, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Eugene Lee, M.D., Resident Physician, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Through experiential activities, participants will step out of their comfort zones and, in the course of discussing human diversity, will explore which processes promote commonality, versus which processes lead to feelings of alienation and exclusion.  How is human diversity relevant to connection amongst group members and how can barriers be transcended?

experiential, demonstration, didactic, sharing of work experiences

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:
1. Analyze how they a) classify other people and themselves, and then b) make assumptions based on their individual classification schema.
2. List many of the manifestations of human diversity and their own reactions to the differences that exist among people.
3. Describe their own processes for forming connections with people different from self.  How can this be done in a way that validates and appreciates human diversity?

Course References:  

1. Allport, G. (1979). Nature of Prejudice. Jackson, TN: Perseus Publishing.
2. O'donnell, C. (2006). Beyond Diversity: Toward a cultural community psychology. Am J Community Psychol [Epub ahead of print].
3. A Provider’s Handbook on Culturally Competent Care. (2000). Oakland, CA: Kaiser Permanente National Diversity Council and National Diversity Department.