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A Comparative Study of the Differences in Cultures and Psychopathology

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A Comparative Study of the Differences in Cultures and Psychopathology
A Comparative study of the Differences in Cultures and Psychopathology
Sainiran S/O V. Thanapal
James Cook University, Singapore
Word Count: 1780

Abstract
Cultural factors have a heavy influence in the study of psychopathology. In this essay, this viewpoint will be analysed and discussed. By understanding these factors and taking them into consideration when treating patients, we as psychologists have a higher chance of efficiently helping in the betterment of our patients’ mental health. This essay will be comparing examples of cultural factors in Western cultures and Eastern cultures, and will analyse the data available to explain how cultural differences are important in our understanding of psychopathology and the subsequent differences in treating patients from differing cultural backgrounds.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE DIFFERENCES IN CULTURES AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Psychopathology is often defined as the presence of mental illness or disease. In the case of research, psychopathology can be taken to refer more broadly to the study of abnormal behaviour (Tackett & Krueger, 2006). In the due course of studying the abnormal behaviour in our clients, we will as psychologists no doubt come across clients differing form culture to culture. By understanding the differing cultural factors that arise, we will benefit in the way that we are more capable in treating people from differing cultures.
The term ‘culture’ can be defined as the “socially shared or transmitted system of norms, values or ideas of a social group” (Spiro, 2001). Thus, what may be socially acceptable in a particular social group may not be so in other social groups. For example, Spiro states in 2001 that the ‘possession trance’ may be something pathological, but this does not apply in third world countries, where encountering the supernatural is part of life. In third world countries like India, a temporary functional psychosis with complete recovery is several times more common


References: Castillo, R. J. (2003). Trance, functional psychosis, and culture. Psychiatry, 66(1), 9-21. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from http://search.proquest.com.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/docview/220702306/abstract?accountid=16285 During, E. H., Elahi, F. M., Taieb, O., Moro, M., & Baubet, T. (2011). A Critical Review of Dissociative Trance and Possession Disorders: Etiological, Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Nosological Issues. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(4), 235-242. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://search.proquest.com.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/docview/866446381/abstract Ee, H. K., Li, P. S., & Kuan, T. C. (1986). A Cross-Cultural Study of the Possession-Trance in Singapore. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 20(3), 361-364. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://informahealthcare.com.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/doi/pdf/10.3109/00048678609158883 Marsella, A. J., & Yamada, A. M. (2010). Culture and Psychopathology: Foundations, Issues, Directions. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 4(2), 103-115. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://search.informit.com.au.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/fullText;dn=702128604565513;res=IELNZC Somer, E. (2006). Culture-Bound Dissociation: A Comparative Analysis. Psychiatric Clincis of North America, 29(1). Retrieved April 1, 2012, from http://br9xy4lf5w.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Culture-bound+dissociation%3A+a+comparative+analysis&rft.jtitle=The+Psychiatric+clinics+of+North+America&rft.au=Somer%2C+Eli&rft.date=2006-03-01&rft.issn=0193-953X&rft.volume=29&rft.issue=1&rft.sp Spiro, M. E. (2001). Cultural Determinism, Cultural Relativism, and the Comparative Study of Psychopathology. Ethos, 29(2), 218-234. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/640637?uid=3738992&uid=2&uid=4&sid=56008500173 Tackett, J. L., & Krueger, R. F. (2006). Psychopathology. Encyclopedia of Human Development, 3, 1044-1046. Retrieved April 1, 2012, from http://asp6new.alexanderstreet.com.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/psyc/psyc.object.details.aspx?dorpID=1001021146 Weisz, J. R., Weiss, B., Suwanlert, S., & Chaiyasit, W. (2006). Culture and Youth Psychopathology: Testing the Syndromal Sensitivity Model in Thai and American Adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(6), 1098. Retrieved April 2, 2012, from http://search.proquest.com.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/docview/614454480/fulltextPDF?accountid=16285
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