Which orientation argues that minorities should be counseled like the majority population?

• A. Emic orientation
• B. Etic orientation
• C. Multicultural universalism
• D. Cultural relativism

Answer: (B)

Etic orientation in counseling uses a universal, outsider perspective, applying the same framework, standards, and interventions to clients from all cultural backgrounds, including minorities. When minorities are counseled in the same way as the majority population, the approach is etic—emphasizing common techniques and norms rather than tailoring to the minority’s own cultural context. In contrast, an emic orientation would tailor counseling to the minority’s cultural values and practices, cultural relativism assesses behavior within its own cultural meaning, and multicultural universalism tries to balance universal principles with cultural considerations but does not specify applying the majority’s approach to minorities. So the idea of counseling minorities like the majority aligns with the etic approach.