AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND BEHAVIOR-THERAPY - INTEGRATING THEORY, CULTURE, AND CLINICAL-PRACTICE

The utility of behavior therapy for the treatment of African American women is discussed, with particular attention to integrating cultural knowledge with assessment, conceptualization, and intervention strateg ies. Specific aspects of behavior theory that are compatible with asse ssing culturally-related variables are presented. These include a focu s within behavior assessment on environmental, social, and cultural fa ctors that influence learning. Cultural issues relevant to an accurate assessment of African American women's behavior are presented to illu strate ways in which a lack of cultural knowledge can lead to misinter pretation of behavior. Finally, guidelines for behavior therapists to consider when working with African American women are presented. It is suggested that integrating cultural factors with behavior therapy wil l result in greater flexibility for treating African American women as well as a range of diverse clients.