APTi Ethical Standards: Additional Guidelines for Type Practitioners

13. When working in other countries, or with people from other countries, keep in mind that while type is universal, culture has an effect on how type patterns are expressed.

While it is always the case that the more you understand about a client population the more effective you can be as a facilitator, this is especially true in cross-cultural situations. Read about and research the cultures you work with, and stay open to ongoing learning from your clients.

Use assessments that are valid translations in the client’s native language whenever possible. Research indicates that people are more likely to agree with their instrument results when this is done.

Use examples that reflect how type tends to be expressed in the client’s culture.

Be aware of how your own cultural background affects the way you look at psychological type. For example, a consultant from the “individualist” U.S. culture might emphasize the value of the model to empower a client, while a client from a “collectivist” culture (countries in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East) would find more value in using their enhanced knowledge of themselves to empower their group. Different cultures also value self reflection differently; people who are less practiced in this may find taking a self-report instrument and verifying a type pattern to be uncomfortable or difficult experiences.

Some people have mixed cultural identities as a result of having lived in more than one culture. Many of us behave differently in different environments, for example home vs. work. The addition of cultural complexity, such as speaking different languages at home and at work, can make identifying Best Fit Type a longer and more complex process.

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