Gender-Specific Determinants of Mental Health and the Role of Culture in Mental Illness Stigma
Verified
Added on 2023/04/22
|13
|3452
|217
AI Summary
The article discusses the impact of gender and culture on mental health and the stigma associated with mental illness. It emphasizes the need for mental healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable, unbiased, and culturally sensitive to provide effective treatment to individuals with mental health disorders.
Contribute Materials
Your contribution can guide someone’s learning journey. Share your
documents today.
Running head: ABNORMALITY ABNORMALITY Name of the student: Name of the university: Author note:
Secure Best Marks with AI Grader
Need help grading? Try our AI Grader for instant feedback on your assignments.
1 ABNORMALITY Task 1: Part a: Despite the presence of mountain of literature, the abnormality has become one of the major stigmas of society. Fullagar et al. (2017), highlighted that a considerable number of individual with an abnormality such as mental illness become isolated for many years and died because of lack of clinical attention.McDougall (2015), highlighted that religious beliefs play a huge role in defining abnormality. The positive spiritual vision of the illness was that it is God's plan and it consequently opens the spiritual acceptance of the illness. The negative spiritual vision of mental illness is that a significant number of individuals with mental illness think that it is demonic attribution to the illness. Cole et al. (2017) stated that a considerate number ofindividuals narrated, “I think my illness is a test sent by God to put me on the right path” or “Illness is a gift from God in order to help me to grow in spiritual life” which further indicated the positive spiritual vision. On the other hand, considering the negative vision, 26% of the people narrated, “ My illness is a possession of a demon that forces me to mutilate myself”.The concept of defining abnormality as a punishment of one’s sin is also prevalent for many decades which further resulted in the reluctance of the seeking clinical attention and death (O'Reilly and Lester 2017).However, the population with little knowledge seem to define abnormality in terms of genetic vulnerability or fragility. Consequently, this stigmatized concept created a contradiction between their religions believes and taking medication which further contributed to the morbidity rate.
2 ABNORMALITY Part B: Definition of abnormality: According toMcDougall(2015),there are four definitions of the abnormality which includes unusual behavior which is different from social norms, behavior which does not conform to social expectations or demands, failure of individuals to function adequately and statistical infrequency. Considering the primary diagnosis of the patient, mental illness evaluated based on this definition. Unusual behavior of individuals different from social norms: Point:This definition assumed thatunusual behavior of individuals different from social norms is a measurement of abnormality. Explanation:Thementalhealthpractitionersobservewhetherthepersonisbehaving abnormally such as having extreme anger, and delusion (Pappet al.2015). These behaviors are unusual then further proceed with the detailed diagnosis to confirm the specific mental illness. Difficulties: While evaluating the behavior according to social norms the practitioners may face hindrance because social norms are specific to culture, ethnicity, and race. For example, until 1973 homosexuality is defined as severe mental illness leading to several deaths because of social stigma.
3 ABNORMALITY Statistical infrequency Point:This definitionassumed that Statistical infrequency is a measurement of abnormality. Explanation:Mentalhealthpractitionersevaluateapatientdependingontheirstatistical infrequency such as IQ scores (Vazquez 2017). Difficulties: However, Tackett et al. (2017), highlighted that statistically, high IQ is a rare phenomenon which further indicated that lower or medium IQ score is not highlighted as abnormalities. Inability to function adequately: Point:This definition assumes that inability to function adequately isa measurement of abnormality. Explanation: The practitioner may observe certain changes in the behavior such as speech pattern, mobility issues, and delusions and confirm the disease (O'Reilly and Lester 2017). Difficulties: since the inadequate functioning of the body can be observed due to other health issues, confirming mental health issues based on definition is not reliable (Vazquez 2017). Task 3: Part A: For this part, the chosen psychological disorder is schizophrenia. Although that exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown Accumulated research highlighted that combination of physical, genetic,psychologicalandenvironmentalfactorscontributedtothedevelopmentof