Viewpoint bias and cultural competency advocacy within applied psychology

Abstract

This chapter argues that cultural competence advocacy is characterized by a palpable viewpoint bias. This bias is rooted in the distinction between the “unconstrained” versus “constrained” sociopolitical visions as articulated by Sowell (A conflict of visions: ideological origins of political struggles. William Morrow, New York, 1987). This bias has palpable effects on students in graduate school, academic publishing, grant reviews, and professional organizations representing psychology. Seven anonymous interviewees, representing accomplished scholars and/or higher education administrators with backgrounds in school psychology, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry, provide comments related to their experiences with viewpoint bias throughout their professional careers.