First topic: Culture and Psychological Disorders
Directions
You should cite your sources, where appropriate, and use a style manual such as American Psychological Association (APA).
Discuss about: Stereotypes and Mental Health
Mental Health Behavioral Checklist.docx
Part of the science of therapy is determining which variables, other than the actual mental states of an individual, affect judgments of normality or abnormality. Broverman, Broverman, Clarkson, Rosenkrantz, and Vogel (1970) found that one such variable is gender. They asked clinically trained professionals to give descriptions of a mature, healthy, socially competent adult male, female, or person. The responses showed that descriptions of men fit the description of a person but that descriptions of women did not, regardless of the gender of the professional. Thus the standards for a mentally healthy person were essentially the same as those for a man but not those for a woman. These results are somewhat analogous to the findings discussed in the text that cultures vary in their definition of normality.
Using the checklist attached above, ask people from different cultural or ethnic groups that are 60+ years old to complete the checklist as to whether the focus is people in general, a man, or a woman. Ask them has it always been this way or has time shifted perception? Compare responses across the cultural groups used. Do the results suggest that there are cultural differences in the characteristics associated with a healthy person, man, or woman? Now find people from the same cultural groups that are under 30 years old and ask them to answer the same questionnaire. Ask them has it always been this way or has time shifted perception? Take the findings from this inquiry and consider them in the context of what how a mentally healthy person is viewed. Does this support the 1970 research listed above? Why do you believe it did or did not? Explain your answer.
*Note: If you do not know anyone of another culture who is elderly, use the greatest contrast you can find (ex. 18 years-old & 47 years-old etc.). The greater the contrast the better.
Second topic: Culture and Treatment of Pyschological Disorders
Directions
You should cite your sources, where appropriate, and use a style manual such as American Psychological Association (APA).
Option 1: Students’ Assumptions About the Treatment for Abnormal Behavior
In the chapter on Culture and Abnormal Psychology, one of the activities had you evaluated a case study and suggested the probable cause of the symptoms and problems outlined in the case study. As a follow up to that exercise, use the same case study (see below). Your answers to the question will show that treatment choices typically depend on the assumption that is made about the development of the behavior in question.
The Case of Lynn
Lynn is a 21 year old single, Native American college student with no prior history of mental problems. She was involuntarily admitted to a short-term psychiatric ward from a hospital emergency room because she described a series of strange experiences. These included increased anxiety, weakness, loss of appetite, feelings of danger to herself, auditory and visual hallucinations, and grandiose delusions. During the week prior to admission, the symptoms gradually worsened, and she reported becoming increasingly preoccupied with death and dead people. While in the hospital, she became very weak and dizzy, and fainted.
A number of stressful events preceded the onset of these symptoms. A maternal aunt, a strong and central figure in her family, had died four months previously. As a college senior, Lynn was struggling with decisions about her career choices following graduation. She was considering applying to graduate programs but was unable to decide which course of study she preferred. She was very much involved with her boyfriend, also a college senior. He too, was struggling with anxiety about graduation, and it was not clear that their relationship would continue. The patient also reported feeling pressured and overextended.
Assume you are Lynn’s therapist, what type of therapy would you use with Lynn (be specific)? Why?
• Please make sure to make two PDF’s for each topic