Can you please help me on the 2 papers

When common actions are translated into a professionalized language of mental deficit and this language is disseminated, the culture comes to construct itself in these terms. This leads to an enhanced dependency on the professions, which are forced, in turn, to invent additional terms of mental deficit. Thus, virtually all remaining patterns of action stand vulnerable to deficit translation.When common actions are translated into a professionalized language of mental deficit and this language is disseminated, the culture comes to construct itself in these terms. This leads to an enhanced dependency on the professions, which are forced, in turn, to invent additional terms of mental deficit. Thus, virtually all remaining patterns of action stand vulnerable to deficit translation.

Focus on the Individual

Often Psychotherapies focus on fixing what’s wrong within an individual

Less focus on environmental factors contributing to disorder

Examples:

PTSD

Marriage

Often psychotherapies focus on determining what is wrong within the individual and that there is something internal that needs to be addressed. They focus more so on trying to help the clients adjust to their circumstances rather than trying to transform the circumstances that may be contributing to the problem.

An example used in the textbook was PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. This disorder was basically used to explain the difficulties some Vietnam veterans had after returning from the war. Key characteristics of the disorder was witnessing or perpetrating death which tied into the horrific experiences of these veterans. But as the mental health profession shifted, researchers began to ask if neurological and genetic factors contribute to PTSD and possible childhood precursors of PTSD. This shifts interests away from war experiences and towards vulnerabilities “inside” the individual.

Another example used in the book was marriage counseling. Most therapist believe that there is nothing wrong with the institution of marriage but rather there is something wrong with the particular couple within the marriage. However, In our society, the concept of marriage is often exaggerated and portrayed in movies as being perfect or superficial. So these unrealistic expectations can affect the institution of marriage, meaning the problem may not lie specifically in a particular marriage but the concept of marriage may be flawed.

What Does Gender Have to Do with This?

Questions to Ask:

How do you think gender effects clinical psychology? How do you think gender affects how people are diagnosed?

Do you think gender plays a role in diagnosis? Do you think gender played a role in 1980’s? Do you think gender plays a role today?

Gender: History of Hysteria

Greek word “Hysterikos” meaning uterus

Women in the 19th Century

Sigmund Freud and female sexuality

The Case of Dora

It was very common for women to be diagnosed as suffering from hysteria. Hysteria comes from the greek word “Hysterikos” meaning of the womb, uterus, or suffering of the womb. Hysteria has had a long history of being documented as an illness. Plato believed that the uterus was an animal and that it moved around, causing strange symptoms in the body. Symptoms usually differed from patient to patient but some common symptoms were shortness of breath, heaviness in the abdomen, muscular spasms and fainting. Anxiety and unusual behavior also contributed to the illness.

Women in the 19th century were believed to be more emotional, dependent and gentle by nature. This perception made many people believe that women were more susceptible to illness. With so little power and control, depression and stress was common for women struggling to cope with the strict gender roles of that era.

Freud believed that hysteria was rooted in unconscious conflicts or problems within patient’s sexual life. The case of Dora was a popular case conducted by Freud and revolving around the concept of hysteria. So, basically Dora was being sexually harassed by her father’s friend and instead of believing his daughter, her father and Freud claimed she had an illness that stemmed from her arousal and disguised sexual desire to be with either her father or his friend. This illness Hysteria was just an attempt to promote the values of that time and to regard women who opposed those values as being insane.

Gender in Clinical Psychology

Women more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety

Men more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial disorder or substance abuse

Gender roles

Studies have shown that women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders. While men are more likely to be diagnosed as antisocial, bipolar and suffering from substance abuse. But why? Is it because men have been socialized to express stress through anger or acting out? Is it because women have been socialized to express stress through dysphoria?

Gender roles are still relevant in our society today. Women are subjected to certain “ideal” beauty standards and this is expressed in the younger age groups. In a recent survey of 1300 females age 7-21, 60% of 11-16 year olds wear makeup to school and 40% wear padded bras. Among 7-11 year olds, 50% use makeup and wear high heels. A third of them reported being unhappy with their looks and the number rose to 50% once they hit the age of 16. Many of the girls reported they experienced sexual harassment. Around 1 in four of the 16-18 age group admitted they were unhappy -> which fits many of the studies showing that in the teenage years girls outnumber boys in rates of depression and anxiety.

Pressures created by the multiple roles women play and gender discrimination account for women’s poor mental health

What does Socioeconomic Status Have to Do with This?

Questions to ask:

Do you think socioeconomic status dictates how a person with a mental disorder with be treated? Do you think that people with low socioeconomic status recieve the same treatment or the same diagnosis as people from low socioeconomic status? Why not?

Social Status in Clinical Psychology

The relation between psychiatric diagnosis to social power

Upper Class & Power

Examples:

Drapetomania

Kleptomania

Atypical Theft Offender Disorder

In regards to social status, certain groups of people are entitled to certain privileges. The same type of discrimination appears in some forms of clinical diagnosis. For example, before the emancipation of slaves in the US, the diagnosis of drapetomania was given to explain the slaves’ uncontrollable urge to escape from slavery. This promoted the ideals of that time and served the purposes of the ones in power, the slave owners.

Another example would be kleptomania which is the irresistible urge to shoplift. This diagnosis was created around the same time as the creation of large department stores. Even though people of all social classes stole, the authorities distinguished between criminal acts of theft and acts reflecting mental illness based on social class. Ordinary women were considered thieves and upper-class women were diagnosed with a mental disorder. The diagnosis of Kleptomania was used as a shield to protect upper-class women and promote a sense of superiority.

Wionna Ryder, who was apprehended in 2001 for shoplifting, was given a mental illness diagnosis of Atypical Theft Offender Disorder (not included in the DSM). Mental health professionals argued that she wasn’t a criminal but suffering from a mental illness due to emotional stress. Which ties into this idea of diagnosis being used to promote the interests of those in power or in high status.

How does cultural and societal values affect Clinical Psychology?

Questions to ask:

How does our society shape the way Clinical psychology is practiced? How does our culture or society shape the way mental disorders are viewed? Do you think our societal values are present in the way the DSM is structured?

Normality v. Abnormality

Judgements of normality and abnormality depend on cultural standards, social norms and local customs

Homosexuality

Cultural Distinctions

Does Middle-class white North Americans = Normal?

Judgements of normality and abnormality depend on cultural standards, social norms and local customs. Prior to 1980, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder and included in the DSM. This category served to promote the cultural and moral values against homosexuality. Clinicals in the US are trained to distinguish between normal “grief” and clinical depression according to the length of time since the death of the loved one. However, the customary mourning period is several months longer in other countries compared to the US. Clinicians following these customs may misdiagnosis someone as being depressed. Some countries even find communication with the deceased, thus talking to the dead or hearing voices may not be unusual to them but for most americans this would cause alarm for a mental illness.

The criteria for mental illness put forward in the DSM may reflect the values and customs of white, middle-class North Americans. Since in most studies, where clinicians are researching what is normal and abnormal, most participants are middle-class and white.

How Can We Make a Change?

Questions to ask:

What are some solutions to the problem with clinical psychology?

Alternatives to Psychotherapy

Narrative Therapy: helping families and individuals to challenge and revise problem-focused narratives and to generate new narratives that open the way toward positive change.

Family Therapy

Community psychology: seeking to understand and challenge the sociopolitical causes of psychological suffering such as: urban poverty, economic marginalization, racial injustice, substance abuse, etc.

Example of community psychology: workers may help communities to reconstitute and strengthen themselves by sponsoring programmes of reconciliation and conflict resolution by assisting them in rebuilding civil society organizations or by strengthening local governance.

So these forms of therapy are shifting the attention from the individual and onto factors that may contribute to the disorder.