ABSTRACT
The use of the word Hispanics refers to all individuals in this population regardless of country of origin and length of time in this country. Many people who trace their descent to Mexico or Latin America prefer the terms Chicano or Latino instead of Hispanic. The word Hispanic tends to trace a connection to Spain and the Spanish conquerors. Another term often used is La Raza, which translates as the race. The term was coined in Mexico to reflect the fact that the people of Latin America are a mixture of many of the world's races, cultures, and religions such as European, African, and indigenous Indians, Arabs, and Jews. This mixture of the cultures of the old and new world needs to be considered in psychological assessments of Chicanos/ Latinos because it reflects the combination of integrated aspects of different views of reality, cultural practices, and historical process. An assessor must be able to understand the different
variables of cultural identity of a Chicano/ Latino individual in addition to educational level, class values, and the identity related to skin color.
