Mexican American Psychology: Social, Cultural, and Clinical Perspectives

by Mario A. Tovar

Overview

Providing in-depth coverage of the Mexican American population from social, cultural, and psychological (clinical) perspectives, this book promotes the understanding of cultural practices and sociological characteristics of this important ethnic group.

There are now more than 32 million Mexican Americans living in the United States. As a result, the odds that a clinician will work with a member of this population—one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the United States—is extremely high. Understanding the culture, society, psyche, acculturation, assimilation, and linguistics specific to Mexican Americans, as well as their crises and appropriate interventions, is imperative to provide counseling/therapy services and culturally sensitive assessments.

In this book, author Mario Tovar explains how Mexican American history and society affects the needs of this group and how services to Mexican Americans require adjustments as a result. Tovar documents significant differences among Mexican Americans depending on whether they are documented or undocumented immigrants, and on their place of origin—rural versus urban areas of Mexico, and northern versus southern Mexico, for example. Readers will understand how the region of the United States in which Mexican Americans settle can influence the development of certain traits for them and learn about mental and physical health care practices common to Mexican Americans, including folk medicine and "healers" who often include grandmothers and elder neighbors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440841477
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/27/2017
Series:	Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Health
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mario A. Tovar, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in Texas and director of psychology services at the Rio Grande State Center.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword vii

Preface ix

Part I Introduction to Sociological and Anthropological Topics

Chapter 1 Overview of Mexican American Psychology 3

Chapter 2 Mexican American History 17

Chapter 3 Contemporary Mexican American Society 35

Chapter 4 Undocumented immigration and Mexican Americans 49

Chapter 5 Assimilation and Acculturation of Mexican Americans 61

Chapter 6 Language, Communication, and Mexican Americans 73

Part II Introduction to Clinical Topics

Chapter 7 Mexican Americans and Mental Health 85

Chapter 8 The Clinical Interview 97

Chapter 9 Counseling Mexican Americans 113

Chapter 10 Psychological Assessments and Evaluations for Mexican Americans 127

Chapter 11 Crisis Interventions 139

Chapter 12 Future Considerations 151

References 159

Index 179

About the Author and Series Editor 191

Editorial Reviews

Well researched and documented, the text contains a multitude of references and a thorough index. Above all, it is a timely, important contribution and invaluable for those training to work with Mexican American populations in clinical settings. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.” —Choice

From the Publisher