Dynamic Sizing

For the traditional Hopi, when a person in a family, or close to a family, dies, it is best not to talk about him or her because it increases the likelihood that the person’s spirit will visit them in the night. Imagine the trauma that might be induced if, according to standard operating procedure, the counselor encouraged this boy to talk openly and freely about his brother. Not only does scienti?c mindedness require counselors to explore all reasonable explanations for behavior, but also it requires treatment techniques that are compatible with cultural practices and beliefs.

Dynamic sizing is the second cultural competency characteristic described by S. Sue . This concept requires the interviewer to know when generalizations based on group membership are appropriate and when they are not. You need to know the general characteristics of the client’s culture of origin, yet at the same time, allow for differential internalization and/or expression of those characteristics.

For example, the concept of machismo is often discussed in relation to Hispanic men.

However, it is na?ve to assume that all Hispanic men express machismo; doing so can in?uence your expectations of client behavior. On the other hand, you would be remiss if you were ignorant of machismo and the possibility that it in?uences Hispanic male behaviors. When dynamic sizing is used appropriately, the pitfalls of stereotyping clients are avoided, while at the same time, the interviewer remains open to signi?cant cultural in?uences.

Another facet of dynamic sizing involves therapists’ knowing when to generalize their own experiences. S. Sue states, “A person who has experienced discrimination and prejudice as a member of one group may be able to understand the plight of those in another group who encounter the same experiences” . However, hav374 Interviewing Special Populationsing similar experiences does not guarantee accurate empathy. Dynamic sizing requires the interviewer to both know and understand and not know and not understand at the same time. This elegant combination of deep understanding and openness is a crucial component of culturally competent interviewing.