Teaching Tools, Strategies, and Resources, continued

Teaching Tools, continued
Iceberg Model

The image of an iceberg was used by Sigmund Freud to illustrate the hidden force of the subconscious mind. This image has become widely used in the public domain as a helpful illustration and/or exercise to gain knowledge about, and understand the aspects of, culture that are not easily discerned, invisible, and/or at the subconscious level, but all nevertheless influential aspects of culture. For example, the Peace Corps uses an iceberg exercise as part of its training curriculum, Culture Counts (see Exercises).

The iceberg model offers a picture to understand how cultural awareness may help health and mental health professionals be alert both to the “invisible,” below-the-surface cultural factors that influence health and well-being, as well as the tendency to respond and react to the visible factors alone.