The symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of a disease or disorder in one culture may not be the same in another. Consider the cultural factors that lead to these differences and how this difference of conceptualization would impact the treatment and recovery of disease. Through your readings last week, you may now have a better understanding of how each culture has its own beliefs about the causes and treatment of illness. The same reasoning applies to mental health and the definition of abnormal psychology. Should behaviors that go against social norms define mental illness?
This week, you explore culture-specific definitions of mental health. You also analyze the influence of Western medicine on these definitions.
Reference:
Global Tribe. (2003). Arun Gandhi on terrorism, nonviolence, and Gandhi. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globaltribe/voices/voi_gandhi.html
Course Text: The Handbook of Culture and Psychology ?Chapter 14, Abnormal Psychology and Culture
?Chapter 15, Clinical Psychology and Culture
Article: Auerbach, R. P., Abela, J. Z., Xiongzhao, Z., & Shuqiao, Y. (2010). Understanding the role of coping in the development of depressive symptoms: Symptom specificity, gender differences, and cross-cultural applicability. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49(4), 547-561.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.
Article: Herrman, H, Saxena, S., & Moodie, R. (Eds.). (2005). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/MH_Promotion_Book.pdf
Article: Nastasi, B. K., Varjas, K., Sarkar, S., & Jayasena, A. (1998). Participatory model of mental health programming: Lessons learned from work in a developing country. School Psychology Review, 27(2), 260-276.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.
Article: Sue, S. (2002). Asian American mental health: What we know and what we don’t know. In W. J. Lonner, D. L. Dinnel, S. A. Hayes, & D. N. Sattler (Eds.), Online Readings in Psychology and Culture (Unit 3, Chapter 4). Retrieved from http://www.wwu.edu/culture/SueS.htm
Article: Triandis, H. C. (2011). Culture and self-deception: a theoretical perspective. Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 39(1), 3-13.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.
In this course, you may have found it interesting to discover how extensively culture impacts psychology. Culture influences human development, identity and personality, attitudes and beliefs, and healthcare. As a scholar-practitioner, you may want to create a positive social change. In doing so, reflect on your future role as a scholar-practitioner. Consider the possible future research related to culture and psychology you might be interested in conducting. Think about how you may affect social change.
For this Discussion, reflect on how learning about the impact of culture on human psychology can help you develop as a scholar-practitioner, dedicated to positive social change.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 6 a brief description of two topics related to culture that you might be interested in researching further. Then, as a future scholar-practitioner, explain two ways you might impact social change in relation to culture and psychology. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your points.
