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Assess how far culture can lead to individual differences in mental health disorders. - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 2
Question 5
Assess how far culture can lead to individual differences in mental health disorders.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Assess how far culture can lead to individual differences in mental health disorders. - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 2
Step 1
Different cultures have different attitudes to mental disorders
Answer
Cultural attitudes significantly shape how mental disorders are perceived and diagnosed. For instance, in some cultures, mental health issues are stigmatized, leading to underreporting or misdiagnosis. Conversely, cultures that are more open to discussing mental health might experience higher rates of diagnosis, which can reflect true prevalence rather than actual differences in mental health across cultures.
Step 2
Cultural specificity of disorders
Answer
Certain cultures have unique mental health disorders linked to cultural practices or beliefs. For example, the Malay culture recognizes 'amok,' which is a sudden outburst of violence, as a specific mental disorder. Such cultural contexts dictate how symptoms are understood and treated within the framework of mental health.
Step 3
Influence of language in diagnosis
Answer
Language barriers can lead to significant differences in mental health diagnosis. If a psychiatrist does not speak the same language as the patient, misunderstandings occur. This can affect the accuracy of the psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis, as nuances in describing mental health symptoms may be lost in translation.
Step 4
Variations in symptom interpretation across cultures
Answer
Cultural differences influence how mental illness symptoms are interpreted and expressed. For instance, Luhrmann et al. (2015) found that hearing voices was considered distressing in Western cultures, while in some Indian communities, it was perceived positively. Such variations suggest that cultural context can lead to differing individual responses to similar experiences, impacting their mental health outcomes.
Step 5
Impact of social factors on mental health
Answer
Social determinants, such as socioeconomic status and community support, vary greatly between cultures and can affect mental health. Lin's (1996) research indicates that social deprivation and differing life experiences can lead to variations in mental health disorders, suggesting that cultural context plays a crucial role in individual differences.