Application of social cognition principles to treatment recommendations for ethnic minority clients: The case of Asian Americans

The present article utilizes social cognition principles in evaluating the literature concerning the treatment needs of Asian American clients. This literature has focused on the accommodation of Asian values in working with Asian American clients, with an overemphasis on between-group mean differences. It is argued that this emphasis encourages the overuse of schematic thinking in working with Asian American clients, which contributes to stereotyping. It is recommended that clinicians utilize information about between-grvup differences, while paying attention to within-group and intraindividual factors which impact on the presentation of an individual Asian American client; such factors include immigration experiences, variations in ethnic identity, and situational factors in the adhtbition of ethnic identity. The framework presented in the article is used to make recommendations for treating ethnic minority clients in psychotherapy.