Derald Sue

Columbia University | CU · Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology

For decades, Asian Americans have had to deal with stereotypes, misunderstandings of their status in society, and prejudice and discrimination. Because of their small population in the U.S. and prevailing model minority stereotypes, they have not received the attention or aid necessary for research and policy advocacy to counter the misunderstandin...

The revised and updated second edition of Microaggressions in Everyday Life presents an introduction to the concept of microaggressions, classifies the various types of microaggressions, and offers solutions for ending microaggressions at the individual, group, and community levels. The authors—noted experts on the topic—explore the psychological e...

Given the immense harm inflicted on individuals and groups of color via prejudice and discrimination, it becomes imperative for our nation to begin the process of disrupting, dismantling, and disarming the constant onslaught of micro- and macroaggressions. For too long, acceptance, silence, passivity, and inaction have been the predominant, albeit...

Many controversies, myths, and misunderstandings have arisen over the definition of microaggressions and microaggression theory. In order to shed light on the questions and issues surrounding the concept and theory, this chapter provides readers with the authors' answers and clarifications. The main intention is to provide a thumbnail sketch of bas...

Microaggression theory has become part of mainstream discourse and the social media. In response to student protests, backlash against microaggression awareness has emerged. Critics minimize the harmful impact of microaggressions, claim that the focus on microaggressions fosters a dangerous culture of victimhood, warn that it imperils free speech,...

The future of microaggression theory will be determined by continued progress in microaggressions theory, research, and practice. Microaggressions research would benefit from cross‐cultural and international research that transcends national boundaries. This chapter outlines possible future lines of inquiry including theoretical and conceptual elab...

The four articles in this Major Contribution represent a major step toward defining, identifying, discussing, and analyzing the many internal and external challenges faced by White individuals on their journeys to developing nonracist and antiracist identities. I attempt to extract important White ally themes from the contributions, indicate areas...

This chapter addresses boundary considerations from multicultural and social justice perspectives. A basic theme that runs throughout the chapter is that the cultural context needs to be considered when determining appropriate therapeutic boundaries with clients. Later in the chapter Derald Wing Sue and Christina Capodilupo describe the necessity f...

The divergent discourses between scholars from the potentially harmful treatment and multicultural psychology camps are accurately observed by Wendt, Gone, and Nagata. I argue that the differences in perspectives between the two groups are more about a clash of therapeutic worldviews, that they are often antagonistic to one another, that conversati...

Constructive dialogues on race have been proposed as a means to heal racial and ethnic divides, reduce prejudice and misinformation, increase racial literacy, and foster improved race relations. Studies on the psychology of racial dialogues indicate social and academic norms that dictate against race talk between White Americans and persons of colo...

As indicated in Chapter Three, both individual and institutional racism are intimately linked to your culture. Euro-American culture is racialized and enforces its cultural views by defining the reality of its citizens. In fact, I would argue that the ability to define reality is perhaps the most insidious and potent form of power. Trial lawyers, p...

If the forces that foster and perpetuate racism are deeply embedded in your personal makeup, your institutional policies and practices, and the culture of your society, how can you possibly make a difference? The prospect of developing a healthy White racial identity may seem overwhelming to you. This realization often leads to a feeling of hopeles...

When my White students begin to really grasp the meaning of White privilege and how thoroughly it is entrenched in our everyday lives, they often ask me what can be done to overcome or minimize it. This is a very difficult question to answer because it requires not only massive societal changes but also much personal work and commitment. Fortunatel...

It is not enough for any of you, on an individual basis, to become bias-free and culturally sensitive when the very institutions that educate you, employ you, and govern you are themselves racist in policy, practice, assumption, and structure. In Chapter Four, I indicated how your racial reality and your racist attitudes and beliefs are formed from...

You may be asking yourselves some questions at this point: “What is racism? How is it different from prejudice, discrimination, bias, and bigotry? You have used the terms anti-Semitism and homophobia as well. Are they not forms of prejudice? When you talk about race, what do you mean? Aren't you overgeneralizing when you use group references like A...

Racial oppression is the unjust persecution and subjugation of groups and individuals based on their visible phenotypical characteristics. In our society, the color of your skin or certain distinguishing physical features may become the primary markers by which discrimination is carried out. Racial oppression is a defining feature of our nation's h...

I'm sure you're offended already. Sure you see racism in our society, you read and hear about terrible things done by other people, but what about you, dear reader, you yourself? Can you imagine that you too are a racist? Are you willing to look at yourself, to examine your assumptions, your attitudes, your conscious and unconscious behavior, the p...

Now that you've read the analysis in the last chapter, it seems important to give you a concrete and formal definition of White privilege. White privilege is the unearned advantages and benefits that accrue to White folks by virtue of a system normed on the experiences, values, and perceptions of their group. White privilege automatically confers d...

What does being White mean? Have you ever asked yourself that question? If not, why haven't you? If you have, what was your answer? Recently, in preparation for a documentary on “The Invisibility of Whiteness,” I posed this question to White strangers in the middle of downtown San Francisco. The following are some representative responses generated...

A Personal Message to My Brothers and Sisters of Color

Half Title Author page Title Copyright Contents Dedication Preface

In textbooks, the news media, everyday conversations, and even in lecture halls, I have often heard reference to “the Chinese problem,” “the Black problem,” “the Indian problem,” “the immigrant problem,” or “the minority problem.” You may have also used such language. Rarely do I hear reference made to “the White problem.” Unfortunately, people of...

Although epidemiological studies and community surveys of Asian Americans have found that lifetime occurrences of racial discrimination are associated with increased risk for psychological morbidity, little is known about how exposure to racial discrimination is patterned in everyday life. Extrapolating from previous qualitative research (Sue, Bucc...

Research on the experiences of faculty of color in predominantly White institutions (PWIs) suggests that they often experience the campus climate as invalidating, alienating, and hostile. Few studies, however, have actually focused on the classroom experiences of faculty of color when difficult racial dialogues occur. Using Consensually Qualitative...

Several scholars have called for a greater integration of trauma psychology with cultural psychology; however, challenges to successful integration exist and should be carefully considered. Indigenous scholars and researchers have successfully bridged the gap between the two fields in recent years with regard to theory, research, and clinical appli...

A typology formed from scores on the School and College Ability Test, Strong Vocational Interest Blank, and the Omnibus Personality Inventory was applied to 104 Chinese and 50 Japanese American males to identify certain homogeneous subgroups and their resultant psychological characteristics. Chinese and Japanese American males tended to concentrate...

To assist educators in detecting the occurrence, understanding the dynamics, and effectively facilitating a difficult dialogue on race, we conducted a qualitative study to systematically examine the perceptions, interpretations, and reactions of 14 White trainees in counseling psychology graduate classes. In our focus groups, we identified 3 major...

Using consensual qualitative research, the perceptions and reactions of White faculty to classroom dialogues on race were explored. Difficult racial dialogues were characterized by intense emotions in both professors and their students, most notable anxiety, that interfered with the ability to successfully facilitate a learning experience for parti...

This reprinted article originally appeared in Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 2007, Vol. 13, (No. 1), 72–81. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2007-00002-009.) Racial microaggressions were examined through a focus group analysis of 10 self-identified Asian American participants using a semistruct...

We wish to clarify the relationship between “Racial Microaggressions in the Life Experience of Black Americans” by Derald W. Sue, Christina M. Capodilupo, and Aisha M. B. Holder (see record 2008-07318-011) (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2008, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 329–336) and “Racial Microaggressions Against Black Americans: Implic...

Comments by on an article entitled "Racial microaggression? How do you know?" by Rafael S. Harris Jr. The author states that inour original article we asserted that the racial reality of POC was generally different from the racial reality of White Americans and that oftentimes interpretations of situations and events are the result of worldviews or...

A qualitative study supports the observation that difficult dialogues on race and racism are often triggered by racial microaggressions that make their appearance in classroom encounters or educational activities and materials. Difficult dialogues are filled with strong powerful emotions that may prove problematic to both students and teachers. Whe...

Racial microaggression themes were identified using a focus‐group analysis of self‐identified Black participants. Six categories of demeaning and invalidating messages reflected beliefs of White supremacy that were unintentionally conveyed by perpetrators. Implications for counselors and the counseling process are discussed.

Multicultural organizational consultation (MOC) possesses a strong social justice component because it is directed toward removing barriers to equal access and opportunity in organizations. As such, it often challenges the power and privilege of organizational policies and practices that oppress marginalized groups and perpetuate disparities. Four...

Racial microaggressions cause considerable psychological distress among Black Americans and are manifested in nearly all interracial encounters. They set in motion energy-depleting attempts to determine whether incidents were racially motivated. Reactions can be classified into 4 major themes: healthy paranoia, sanity check, empowering and validati...

The Development of PersonalityPersonality: A Conceptual SchemeLimitations and ImplicationsMental Health ProblemsThe Inadequacy of Mental Health Care

Racial microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color. Perpetrators of microaggressions are often unaware that they engage in such communications when they inte...

Perceived racial microaggressions by White supervisors were examined through a qualitative analysis of 10 self-identified Black doctoral supervisees in counseling and clinical psychology. Results indicated 7 microaggression themes directed toward this group: (a) invalidating racial-cultural issues, (b) making stereotypic assumptions about Black cli...

Racial microaggressions were examined through a focus group analysis of 10 self-identified Asian American participants using a semistructured interview and brief demographic questionnaire. Results identified 8 major microaggressive themes directed toward this group: (a) alien in own land, (b) ascription of intelligence, (c) exoticization of Asian w...

This chapter explores the concept of optimal human functioning among people of color and suggests implications for the field of applied psychology. Several major assumptions guide the authors' imagery. First, optimal human functioning among people of color may differ from the culture-bound goals of happiness, hope, subjective well-being, and self-d...

In our society, Whiteness is a default standard; the background of the figure-ground analogy from which all other groups of color are compared, contrasted, and made visible. From this color standard, racial/ethnic minorities are evaluated, judged, and often found to be lacking, inferior, deviant, or abnormal. Because Whiteness is considered to be n...

Presents the author's presidential address to the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the American Psychological Association. The author discusses the social injustice of racism and why such a topic is relevant to counseling psychology. The following topics are discussed: (1) Three manifestations of racism; (2) Defining racism as patho...

In this chapter, we explore the limitations of the Eurocentric approach to counseling and therapy and demonstrate how this approach can cause harm to individuals from various racial/ethnic groups. Next, we define multicultural therapy and show how it expands on traditional definitions of counseling and therapy in several important ways. We define c...

Whiteness and ethnocentric monoculturalism are powerful and entrenched determinants of worldview. Because they are invisible and operate outside the level of conscious awareness, they can be detrimental to people of color, women, and other marginalized groups in society. Both define a reality that gives advantages to White Euro American males while...

Multiculturalism, in its broadest terms, not only is defined by race and ethnicity but also involves topics of gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Underlying this notion is the assumption that there is no one way to conceptualize human behavior, no one theory that explains the realities and experiences of various forms of diversity, and no...

Multiculturalism, in its broadest terms, not only is defined by race and ethnicity but also involves topics of gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Underlying this notion is the assumption that there is no one way to conceptualize human behavior, no one theory that explains the realities and experiences of various forms of diversity, and no...

In addition to the normal health problems encountered in life, racial/ethnic minorities are often subjected to the stressors of minority status in our society. A large body of literature exists indicating that racism is a continuing stressor in the lives of persons of color; that they are subjected to prejudice, bias and discrimination, education,...

Calls for incorporating cultural competence in psychology have been hindered for a number of reasons: belief in the universality of psychological laws and theories, the invisibility of monocultural policies and practices, differences over defining cultural competence, and the lack of a conceptual framework for organizing its multifaceted dimensions...

The National Multicultural Conference and Summit was held in January 1999 in Newport Beach, California. Hosted by Divisions 17 (Counseling Psychology), 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), and 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues), the event drew support from many American Psychological Association (APA) divisions...

Most counselors have had very little experience with indigenous methods of healing. Indigenous healing can be defined as helping beliefs and practices that originate over extended time within a culture that are not transported from other regions, and that are designed for treating the inhabitants of a given group. Most counselors would find great d...

Changes in the world of work are posing major challenges to workers, institutions, and society. Not only has the nature of work been affected by the changing work environment, increased global competition, and technological revolutions, but the characteristics of the workforce can only be described as revolutionary. Societal forces have resulted in...

This article discusses how changes in the world of work are posing major challenges to workers, institutions, and society. Not only has the nature of work been affected by the changing work environment, increased global competition, and technological revolutions, but the characteristics of the workforce can only be described as revolutionary. Socie...

These chapters represent [the editors'] conceptualization of a theory of MCT [multicultural counseling and therapy]. The text is divided into 4 major parts. Part I . . . consists of 3 chapters in which we propose and develop a theory of MCT. Parts II [and III] present the contributors' views on our proposed theory, both from a theoretical perspec...

The prevalence of psychopathology among Asian Americans has been a source of debate. Some investigators believe that the prevalence rate is quite low, whereas others argue that it is fairly high. A review of the literature suggests that at this time, it is not possible to determine the specific rates of psychopathology. However, evidence does sugge...

The purpose of this paper is to begin the process of proposing a theory of multicultural counseling and therapy (MCT). Since such an attempt may be culturally biased in itself, an effort is made to minimize this danger by analyzing the weaknesses and culture- bound biases of traditional mental health practices, by reviewing the literature associate...

Research on Asian Americans has traditionally been ignored or has failed to create a realistic understanding of their status in society. There is widespread belief that Asians in the US are a model minority who are somehow immune to the stresses of minority status and in need of no special consideration. The 3 studies in the special section on Asia...

Like its predecessor—which awakened the therapeutic community to the varying assumptions, needs, and biases of culturally different clients—this updated and revised "Second Edition" opens new doors and lays the groundwork for exciting new directions. While the overall approach has remained the same, there is heightened emphasis on the damaging ef...

In April 1991, the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) approved a document outlining the need and rationale for a multicultural perspective in counseling. The work of the Professional Standards committee went much further in proposing 31 multicultural counseling competencies and strongly encouraged the American Associati...

Comments on article by Brett N. Steenbarger in which the contextualist themes in counseling are described. Contends Steenberger recognizes and validates importance of considering cultural diversity in human development. Makes case for stage theories that do incorporate contextualist themes. (ABL)

Presents a model for cultural diversity assessment and training that was developed for business and industry. The model is based on a 3 × 3 ×  3 matrix, which analyzes an organization's functional focus (recruitment, retention, and promotion), barriers (differences, discrimination, and systemic factors), and cross-cultural competencies (beliefs/att...

The author addresses the need to develop culture-specific strategies in working with racial–ethnic minorities. Conceptual frameworks providing a rationale for such recommendations have not been well elucidated. A review of the literature revealed 3 major domains from which such justifications can be drawn: (a) culture-bound communications styles, (...

Outlines and challenges some prevalent myths and misunderstandings that have made it difficult to develop appropriate curricula and relevant counseling/therapy competencies for the different cultures in the US. Cross-cultural counseling/therapy is defined, and the adoption by the American Psychological Association of specific cross-cultural counsel...

Proposes a general working theory of how race- and culture-specific factors interact to produce people with differing world views. Empirical and clinical data are reviewed that indicate 2 psychological concepts—locus of control and locus of reponsibility—may explain how world views are formed and their consequent dynamics. Four world views are iden...

Counselors who hold world views different from their clients' views and who are unaware of the bases for these differences are most likely to impute negative traits to their clients. Culturally different clients such as Asian-Americans, Blacks, Chicanos, and native Americans have a greater probability of holding different perspectives. (Author)

Many mental health professionals have noted that racial and ethnic factors may act as impediments to counseling. Misunderstandings that arise from cultural variations in verbal and nonverbal communication may lead to alienation and/or an inability to develop trust and rapport. An analysis of the generic characteristics of counseling reveals 3 varia...

Discusses current training, research, and service delivery practices of psychologists as these relate to minority group members. It is concluded that psychology has not met the needs of these groups. Some guidelines that may be useful to social scientists to rectify this situation are proposed. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all r...

Based on the 1970 US Census and available studies, the status of Chinese, Filipinos, and Japanese is examined. 2 views are presented: Asian Americans as a successful minority group and as an oppressed minority group. It is suggested that (a) statistics regarding income, education, interracial marriage, and mental health need to be critically examin...

Studied 3,053 Asian-American and non-Asian students in the 1966 freshman class of a large state university over a 4-yr period to determine usage of mental health services. Asian-Americans underutilized the campus psychiatric service but significantly overutilized the counseling center. Possible reasons related to the Asian-Americans' subcultural va...

The MMPI records of a total of 46 Chinese and Japanese students were compared with those of 120 non-Asian students from a university psychiatric clinic. Results indicate that compared to non-Asians, Chinese and Japanese students (a) underutilized the clinic services; (b) possessed more pronounced MMPI scale elevations; and (c) exhibited problems in...

Asked all entering freshmen at a large northern California university to participate in a testing program that included the School and College Ability Test, the SVIB, and the Omnibus Personality Inventory. Results from 106 Japanese-Americans, 236 Chinese-Americans, and all other students were analyzed and compared to 1 another. Findings support the...