Cultural relativism suggests that ethics, morals, values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors must be understood within the context of the culture from which they arise. It means that all cultures have their own beliefs and that there is no universal or absolute standard to judge those cultural norms.
“Cultural relativism leads us to accept that cultures are foundationally different, with differing social and ethical norms. This includes understanding that a person’s place of birth, including where or how a patient was raised during their formative years, is the basis of a person’s approach to the world and emotional self,” says Anu Raj, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at New York Institute of Technology.
Advocates of cultural relativism suggest that one culture’s values, beliefs, and norms should not be judged through the lens of another culture.
It is the opposite of ethnocentrism, which involves judging or understanding cultural beliefs from the perspective of your own. Instead, cultural relativism suggests that observers and researchers should focus on describing those practices without attempting to impose their own biases and judgments upon them.
History of Cultural Relativism
The concept of cultural relativism was introduced by anthropologist Franz Boas in 1887. While he did not coin the term, it later became widely used by his students to describe his anthropological perspective and theories.1
Beliefs of Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism suggests that:
- Different societies have their own moral codes and practices.
- Norms, beliefs, and values must be judged and understood from the context of the culture where they originate.
- No culture is objectively better than others; cultures and their customs and beliefs are not objectively superior or inferior to any other culture.
- Practices and behaviors considered acceptable or unacceptable vary from one culture to the next.
- Cultural relativism aims to help promote acceptance, tolerance, and an appreciation for diverse cultural beliefs and practices.
- No universal ethical or moral truths apply to all people in all situations.
- What is considered right and wrong is determined by society’s moral codes.
- Researchers and observers should strive to observe behavior rather than pass judgments on it based on their own cultural perspective.
Different Types of Cultural Relativism
There are two distinct types of cultural relativism: absolute cultural relativism and critical cultural relativism.
Absolute Cultural Relativism
According to this perspective, outsiders should not question or judge cultural events. Essentially, this point of view proposes that outsiders should not criticize or question the cultural practices of other societies, no matter what they might involve.
Critical Cultural Relativism
Critical cultural relativism suggests that practices should be evaluated in terms of how and why they are adopted. This perspective suggests that cultural practices can be evaluated and understood by looking at factors such as the historical context and social influences.
It also recognizes that all societies experience inequalities and power dynamics that influence how and why certain beliefs are adopted and who adopts them.
Strengths of Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism has a number of benefits that can help people gain greater insight into different cultures. This perspective can help:
- Promote cultural understanding: Because cultural relativism encourages seeing cultures with an open mind, it can foster greater empathy, understanding, and respect for cultures different from ours.
- Protect cultural respect and autonomy: Cultural relativism recognizes that no culture is superior to any other. Rather than attempting to change other cultures, this perspective encourages people to respect the autonomy and self-determinism of other cultures, which can play an important role in preserving the heritage and traditions of other cultures.
- Foster learning: By embracing cultural relativism, people from different backgrounds are able to communicate effectively and create an open dialogue to foster greater learning for other cultures of the world.
Cultural relativism can also be important in helping mental health professionals deliver culturally competent care to clients of different backgrounds.
“What’s considered “typical and normal versus pathological” depends on cultural norms. It varies between providers and patients; it impacts diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis,” Raj explains.
When mental health professionals account for the differences in values, and attitudes towards and of marginalized people (including communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities), providers develop respect for individual patients. Consequently, patients are less likely to be misdiagnosed and more likely to continue treatment.
Limitations of Cultural Relativism
While cultural relativism has strengths, that does not mean it is without limitations.2
Failure to Address Human Rights
This perspective has been criticized for failing to address universal rights. Some suggest that this approach may appear to condone cultural practices that constitute human rights violations. It can be challenging to practice non-judgment of other cultures while still protecting people’s right to live free from discrimination and oppression.3
Cultural relativism may sometimes hamper progress by inhibiting the examination of practices, norms, and traditions that limit a society’s growth and progress.
Reducing Cultures to Stereotypes
Cultural relativism sometimes falls victim to the tendency to stereotype and simplify cultures. Rather than fully appreciating the full complexity and diversity that may exist within a culture, people may reduce it to a homogenous stereotype. This often prevents outsiders from seeing the many variations that may exist within a society and fully appreciating the way cultures evolve over time.
Individual Rights vs. Cultural Values
This perspective may sometimes lead observers to place a higher priority on a culture’s collective values while dismissing individual variations. This might involve, for example, avoiding criticism of cultures that punish political dissidents who voice opposition to cultural norms, and practices.
Examples of Cultural Relativism
In reality, people make cultural judgments all the time. If you’ve ever eaten food from another culture and described it as ‘gross’ or learned about a specific cultural practice and called it ‘weird,’ you’ve made a judgment about that culture based on the norms of your own. Because you don’t eat those foods or engage in those practices in your culture, you are making culture-biased value judgments.
Cultural differences can affect a wide range of behaviors, including healthcare decisions. For example, research has found that while people from Western cultures prefer to be fully informed in order to make autonomous healthcare conditions, individuals from other cultures prefer varying degrees of truth-telling from medical providers.3
An example of using cultural relativism in these cases would be describing the food practices of a different culture and learning more about why certain foods and dishes are important in those societies. Another example would be learning more about different cultural practices and exploring how they originated and the purpose they serve rather than evaluating them from your own cultural background.
In medical settings, healthcare practitioners must balance the interests and autonomy of their patients with respect and tolerance for multicultural values.
Cultural Relativism in Mental Health
Cultural relativism can also play an important role in the practice and application of mental health. “An individual’s perception of mental health, including stigma, is often influenced by their cultural identity and social values,” explains Raj.
People who experience cultural discrimination are also more likely to experience higher stress levels, which can seriously affect mental health. Research has shown that perceived discrimination increases psychological distress and predicts symptoms of anxiety and depression. It also contributes to worse physical health, including a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke.4
Therapists must strive to understand people from different backgrounds to provide culturally competent care. “Through the lens of cultural competency, providers can educate themselves and elevate the plethora of coping mechanisms that a patient already might possess,” says Raj.
Cultural Relativism vs. Ethnocentrism
Cultural relativism and ethnocentrism are two contrasting perspectives that can be used to evaluate and understand other cultures.
Ethnocentrism involves judging other cultures based on the standards and values of one’s own culture, often leading to a biased or prejudiced perspective.
Where cultural relativism suggests that all cultures are equally valid, ethnocentrism involves seeing your own culture as superior or more correct than others.
Cultural relativism emphasizes the importance of diversity and recognizes that values, beliefs, and behaviors can vary across societies. This can be contrasted with ethnocentrism, which promotes the idea that your own culture is the norm or benchmark against which others should be evaluated. This can limit understanding and decrease tolerance for people of different backgrounds.
How Do You Promote Cultural Relativism?
There are a number of strategies that can help promote cultural relativism. This can be particularly important for mental health professionals and other healthcare practitioners.
“Therapists must be able to view the world through the eyes of their patients. Most importantly, culturally competent therapists understand their patient’s behavior through the cultural framework in which they live,” Raj says.
Promoting cultural relativism involves adopting an open-minded and respectful approach toward other cultures. Some things you can do to foster greater cultural relativism:
- Embrace cultural diversity: Strive to appreciate other cultures, including their unique values, traditions, and perspectives. Remember that diversity enriches our lives, experiences, and world knowledge.
- Learn more about other cultures: Take the time to explore cultures other than your own, including histories, traditions, and beliefs. Resources that can help include books, documentaries, and online resources.
- Practice empathy: Seek to understand others by imagining things from their perspective. Try to understand their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Cultivate empathy and respect for the differences between people and cultures.
- Seek diversity: Make an active effort to spend more time with people from different walks of life. Talk to people from diverse backgrounds and approach these discussions with an open mind and a desire to learn. Be willing to share your own perspectives and experiences without trying to change others or impose your beliefs on them.
- Challenge biases: Try to become more aware of how your unconscious biases might shape your perceptions and interactions with others. Practicing cultural relativism is an ongoing process. It takes time, open-mindedness, and a willingness to reflect on your biases.
Promoting Cultural Relativism Among Mental Health Professionals
How can therapists apply cultural relativism to ensure they understand other cultural perspectives and avoid unintentional biases in therapy?
A 2019 study found that the ideal training for therapists included graduate coursework in diversity, supervised clinical experiences working with diverse populations, experiential activities, didactic training, and cultural immersion when possible.5
Avoiding Bias in Therapy
Raj suggests that there are important questions that professionals should ask themselves, including:
- How do I identify?
- How does my patient identify?
- What prejudices or biases am I holding?
- Are there biases or stereotypes I hold based on my own upbringing and culture?
She also suggests that therapists should always be willing to ask about client involvement in treatment planning. She recommends asking questions such as:
- What approaches have been successful or failed in the past?
- How does the patient perceive their ailment?
- What were the results of the patient’s previous coping mechanisms?
- How does the patient’s culture drive their behavior, coping skills, and outcomes?
By making clients an active part of their treatment and taking steps to understand their background better, therapists can utilize cultural relativism to deliver more sensitive, informed care.