Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged... more Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged process. While ample research has provided evidence for the mental and physical health benefits of writing (e.g., Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999), few studies have methodically examined the inner life of the fiction writer. This study explored two primary questions: (a) Why do authors write? and (b) How does the act of writing affect them in turn? This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a guiding methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five authors of fiction, then transcribed and analyzed to generate a rich interpretative account. The motivations for writing fiction were found to be complex and multifaceted and the impact often subtle, but profound. Authors both forget and find themselves in the task of writing. They temporarily leave behind their everyday lives as they become absorbed in the task of writing and transported into the worlds o...
Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2010
Accurate assessment of ethnic minority clients is often hindered by clinician bias and lack of cu... more Accurate assessment of ethnic minority clients is often hindered by clinician bias and lack of culturally sensitive instruments. Multicultural guidelines can enhance clinician awareness and sensitivity in conducting assessments with diverse populations. These guidelines are illustrated using an Asian Indian American character from Lahiri's (2008) novel Unaccustomed Earth. La evaluación precisa de clientes pertenecientes a minorías étnicas se ve con frecuencia dificultada por el sesgo de los especialistas clínicos y la falta de instrumentos culturalmente sensibles. Las directrices multiculturales pueden ampliar la conciencia de los especialistas y su sensibilidad al llevar a cabo evaluaciones con poblaciones diversas. Estas directrices se ilustran usando un personaje indoasiáticoamericano extraído de la novela Unaccustomed Earth de Lahiri (2008). C linicians conduct psychological assessments to determine their clients' psychological functioning, make diagnoses, and subsequently develop treatment plans. An effective assessment should be as unbiased, ethical, and multidimensional as possible. Although effective assessments can provide insight into their clients' personal goals and belief systems, clinicians should realize that assessments that overlook multicultural factors risk being inaccurate and, at worst, harming clients (Roysircar, 2005). Roysircar (2005) discussed several barriers to culturally sensitive psychological assessment. First, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) does not address cultural variables beyond providing "Appendix I: Outline for Cultural Formulation and Glossary of Culture-Bound Syndromes" (pp. 897-903) and V Codes ("for Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention," p. 5), such as Acculturation Problem (V62.4; p. 741), that consist of additional conditions that may warrant clinical attention. Therefore, clinicians may overpathologize or underdiagnose clients from diverse backgrounds. Second, the generalizability of empirical criterion-keyed measures of psychopathology, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, has not been sufficiently demonstrated among diverse populations because scores are determined by monocultural
Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged... more Authors of fiction often describe writing as a psychologically meaningful and emotionally charged process. While ample research has provided evidence for the mental and physical health benefits of writing (e.g., Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999), few studies have methodically examined the inner life of the fiction writer. This study explored two primary questions: (a) Why do authors write? and (b) How does the act of writing affect them in turn? This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as a guiding methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five authors of fiction, then transcribed and analyzed to generate a rich interpretative account. The motivations for writing fiction were found to be complex and multifaceted and the impact often subtle, but profound. Authors both forget and find themselves in the task of writing. They temporarily leave behind their everyday lives as they become absorbed in the task of writing and transported into the worlds o...
Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2010
Accurate assessment of ethnic minority clients is often hindered by clinician bias and lack of cu... more Accurate assessment of ethnic minority clients is often hindered by clinician bias and lack of culturally sensitive instruments. Multicultural guidelines can enhance clinician awareness and sensitivity in conducting assessments with diverse populations. These guidelines are illustrated using an Asian Indian American character from Lahiri's (2008) novel Unaccustomed Earth. La evaluación precisa de clientes pertenecientes a minorías étnicas se ve con frecuencia dificultada por el sesgo de los especialistas clínicos y la falta de instrumentos culturalmente sensibles. Las directrices multiculturales pueden ampliar la conciencia de los especialistas y su sensibilidad al llevar a cabo evaluaciones con poblaciones diversas. Estas directrices se ilustran usando un personaje indoasiáticoamericano extraído de la novela Unaccustomed Earth de Lahiri (2008). C linicians conduct psychological assessments to determine their clients' psychological functioning, make diagnoses, and subsequently develop treatment plans. An effective assessment should be as unbiased, ethical, and multidimensional as possible. Although effective assessments can provide insight into their clients' personal goals and belief systems, clinicians should realize that assessments that overlook multicultural factors risk being inaccurate and, at worst, harming clients (Roysircar, 2005). Roysircar (2005) discussed several barriers to culturally sensitive psychological assessment. First, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) does not address cultural variables beyond providing "Appendix I: Outline for Cultural Formulation and Glossary of Culture-Bound Syndromes" (pp. 897-903) and V Codes ("for Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention," p. 5), such as Acculturation Problem (V62.4; p. 741), that consist of additional conditions that may warrant clinical attention. Therefore, clinicians may overpathologize or underdiagnose clients from diverse backgrounds. Second, the generalizability of empirical criterion-keyed measures of psychopathology, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, has not been sufficiently demonstrated among diverse populations because scores are determined by monocultural
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