Describe the steps outlined by Hardy and Laszloffy (1995) for constructing a cultural genogram.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Step 1: Define one’s culture of origin--The major group(s) from which a person has descended that were the first generation to come to the United States; Step 2: Organizing principles and pride/shame issues--Identify the major organizing principles of each group that comprises the client’s culture of origin; Step 3: Create symbols--The clinician should create symbols to denote all pride/shame issues and to indicate their impact on family functioning; Step 4: Select colors--The clinician and clients should select a different color to represent each group comprising a client’s culture of origin. The configuration of colors gives a quick view of the overall cultural composition of the family system and of each individual’s unique cultural identity. Genograms that are dominated by a single color indicate that the family system is characterized by a high degree of cultural homogeneity. Conversely, if genograms have a collage of colors, the family is most likely multicultural. After these observations based on selecting colors, the clinician develop questions that direct further exploration of the client’s unique cultural background; Step 5: Identify intercultural marriages--Intercultural marriages representing a blending of cultures and thus a blending of pride and shame issues. In intercultural marriages, the parties must negotiate how different cultural heritage gets passed down and they have to trace the intergenerational consequences of the intercultural marriage. The symbol (~) is used to denote intercultural marriages; Step 6: Construct a cultural framework chart--The sixth step in the cultural genogram process involves establishing a cultural framework chart (CFC). The CFC constitutes the legend for the cultural genogram. Each person is given a cultural framework chart that lists the major organizing principles and the pride/shame issues with their corresponding symbols; Step 7: The genogram--The final step involves constructing a three-generation (minimum) family genogram that contains symbols to identify intercultural marriages, colors to illustrate the cultural composition of each person’s cultural identity, and the symbols created to denote pride/shame issues.