Respect for diversity and viewing behavior through a cultural lens helps to understand behavior within its cultural context. This skill is essential to understanding the meaning of the behavior, identifying any concerns, and planning for any individualized intervention. The cultural context of behavior includes the cultural influences of family, community, and setting in which the behavior occurs. Review the vignette below and respond to the reflective questions that follow the vignette.

Vignette – Lucien

I am Natalia Jones, a mental health consultant to Nuestros Niños child care in a major city in Texas. Ms. Flores is a teacher who works in the preschool classroom. She contacted me with concerns about a little boy in her class named Lucien. She described Lucien as shy, quiet, and somewhat withdrawn four year old boy, who has only been in the program for the last four months. Ms. Flores explained that on several occasions she has tried to engage Lucien to play with puppets, and in the dress up and kitchen areas to see if he will interact with his peers or engage in fantasy play, but whenever Lucien is invited to join, he looks over quickly, but will not join in the activity. His only interest is playing in the block area, which he has been doing for the several months he has been in the program. She asked me to come into the classroom and observe Lucien to help her to understand his behavior and address any concerns.

When I enter the classroom, Ms. Flores calls all of the children to sit on their mats for story time, and although the other children respond, Lucian remains seated alone lining blocks up in the block area. Ms. Flores calls him to join the others on the carpet and after two attempts, goes and catches him by the hand, brings him to the carpet, and gently guides him to sit on carpet by placing her hands on his shoulders. The children on either side of Lucien speak to him, but Lucien appears not to notice and does not respond. After about 30 minutes, I leave the classroom and return later that afternoon to speak with Ms. Flores and set up another date and time to observe Lucien.

On the second observation, I arrive as the children are enjoying free play, and I am able to sit quietly and observe Lucien alone in the block area. After a few minutes another little boy comes over to play and begins to talk to Lucien, who barely acknowledges the child. After a few more attempts to engage Lucien, the other little boy gets up and walks away to join some other children in another activity. As the children are taken to lunch, I take advantage of the opportunity to speak with Ms. Flores. She begins to tell me about Lucien’s father and share some of the information that she knows about the family.

Lucien’s father, Mr. Lorenzo is a fire fighter and single parent, who seems to be very devoted to Lucien; and spends one of his days off volunteering in either the classroom or in other areas of the building on a weekly basis. Ms. Flores tells me that she and Lucien’s father have had a disagreement and admits that she may have gotten off to a difficult start by expressing her concerns to his father before speaking with me. She explains that on this particular day, Mr. Lorenzo was assisting in the assembly of new playground equipment, and happened to stop by the classroom. He observed Ms. Flores trying to get Lucien to play in the dress up and kitchen areas. When the teacher’s aide took the children to the outdoor area, Mr. Lorenzo approached Ms. Flores asking to speak with her; she agreed saying that she had wanted to speak with him and is glad for the opportunity to talk.

According to Ms. Flores, she began to relate her concerns to Mr. Lorenzo about Lucien’s isolation from his classmates; his unwillingness to play in areas other than the blocks. Mr. Lorenzo interrupted her and began to tell her that his son is a good boy, who keeps to himself and does not fight. He explained that Lucien is good at building things and that he has encouraged his son to do things that he is good at; adding that building with blocks is also something that Lucien and he like to do together at home. He told Ms. Flores that he did not appreciate her trying to “sissify” his son by suggesting that he play in the dress up and kitchen areas. He stated that he had noticed this on many occasions and has firmly told Lucien not to play in the areas that are meant for girls and to stick with the blocks or trucks which are boys’ toys.

Ms. Flores said that she tried to explain the program’s philosophy of providing varied play environments and opportunities for imaginary play, but Mr. Lorenzo would not hear of it. In the end he excused himself and joined the children and aide in the outdoor area. Ms. Flores has had time to reflect and told me that she feels that she crossed some line that she never saw or imagined. She tells me that she asked my assistance because of her concerns for Lucien as well as her desire to come to some sort of resolution with Mr. Lorenzo.

Cultural Context Reflective Questions

As a mental health consultant, how should Dr. Jones address Ms. Flores’ concerns regarding Lucien’s emotional and behavioral development and devise a strategy to build Ms. Flores’ respect for diversity and assist her in resolving the conflict with Mr. Lorenzo? Respond to the reflective questions below:

Possible Answers