The role of culture is significant when measuring cognitive abilities during neuropsychological assessments. However, cultural diversity is a frequently overlooked moderating variable. The International Handbook of Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology emphasizes major distinctions among cultural groups in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to heighten awareness of nuances, as well as culturally-influenced differences and similarities. The goal of this important handbook is to view assessments and rehabilitation from different perspectives, thereby offering opportunities for increasing knowledge and understanding, while improving clinical skills and laying the groundwork for establishing international and cross-culture collaborations.
Clinical judgment can be colored by previous experiences from different cultures, expectancy rates of pathology among certain groups, and differences in socioeconomic levels. As clinical experiences increase with people from different cultures, the limitations of neuropsychological tools to make accurate assessments become evident. It is through gaining knowledge about the values of a different culture that neuropsychologists can develop a cross-cultural understanding.
Professionals in areas such as neuropsychology, cross-cultural psychology, and social psychology, to name a few, will find the material in this volume to be a stimulating addition to existing literature.
