Cultural Competence and Sensitivity
Not only is context important in determining whether an individual's behavior meets the criteria for a mental disorder, but culture and family background can also be important factors. Some behaviors would clearly be "abnormal" in any culture or family, while other behaviors are not so clearly defined.
Using online library resources, research the role of cultural norms in identifying mental disorders. Based on your research, respond to the following:
Why is culture an important consideration in the interview, assessment, and diagnostic process?
How might your own cultural, ethnic, or family values, rules, or traditions be misinterpreted as "abnormal" by someone from a dissimilar
background? Give examples in your answer.
Challenges in Identifying Mental Disorders
Most mental disorders lie on a continuum with "normal" behavior at one end. For example, nearly everyone has a fear of something, but it does not rise to the level of a phobia. A behavior may seem abnormal in one context but completely normal in another context. These two aspects show why it can be challenging to properly identify mental disorders.
Using your online library resources, research the principles and methods of identifying mental disorders. Note particularly the diversity of views and the challenges of identification. Based on your research, write a reflective essay. Use the following question to direct your thoughts and organize your essay:
Why is determining abnormal behavior or a mental disorder so difficult?
To develop your essay, keep in mind issues such as the role of social norms in defining the abnormal, the multiplicity of indicators of what is abnormal, the stigma suffered by those identified as abnormal, and finally the need for objectivity in dealing with the concept.