ABSTRACT
Biological approaches are important to multicultural psychology not because there are biologically-based race differences but because sociocultural factors associated with race, ethnicity, and culture can influence biological processes. Cultural neuroscience has shown that interdependent cultural norms can influence neural reward and emotional responses. Genes and the environment make nearly equal contributions to human behavior. An overemphasis on heredity can lead to fatalistic thinking about how diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, respond to behavioral changes. Systemic inequalities have resulted in health disparities. Discrimination is a major source of health problems for BIPOC communities because it results in greater inflammation, a component of allostatic load. Acculturative stress is a major source of health problems for immigrants. Yet, those in immigrant families who are born in the United States often have poorer health than those born elsewhere because of poor health behaviors adopted by those born in the United States. Cultural protective factors for health include familism and enculturation. Health disparities can be addressed via culturally tailored interventions and promotion of health literacy.
