Ethnopsychological Method and the Psychological Assessment of Mexican Americans

Abstract

This article reviews the theoretical and methodological development of ethnopsychology, which is founded on the principle that distinct cultural groups share basic common beliefs and values that differentiate them psychologically from other cultural groups. The distinctness of a cultural group is rooted in a series of historical, sociocultural experiences and perceptions of oneself and the group as a whole. The development of ethnopsychology is summarized through the contributions of Rogelio Diaz-Guerrero and his early exploration of the fundamental premises and tenets that guide ethnopsychological theory and method. The contributions of other theorists, focusing on the uniqueness of bicultural/bilingual groups such as Mexican Americans, are also summarized. The author supports the application of ethnopsychological theory and method to enhance psychologists’ understanding of bilingual/bicultural groups in the United States. Specifically, she reviews current psychological assessment methods and their ethnopsychological adaptation for Mexican Americans.