Understanding Cultural Responsiveness

Cultural responsiveness means having an awareness of one’s own cultural identity and views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on the varying cultural and community norms of students and their families.

Additionally, cultural responsiveness is a method and more importantly a prescriptive model of educational practice” that decreases the adverse effects of acculturative stress. Acculturative stress is defined as the abrupt or enforced entry into a different and unknown cultural environment, thus creating a psychological struggle to find social and personal balance within a novel group culture.  Researchers significantly explored acculturative stress among various ethnic groups. High levels of acculturative stress contribute to negative patterns of coping and maladjusted behavior patterns.  Symptomology includes mild and clinical depression. The symptoms of acculturative stress negatively impact how individuals navigate an environment.