Papers on "Gender and Cultural Issues in Abnormal Psychology" and similar term paper topics

Paper #055151 :: Gender and Cultural Issues in Abnormal Psychology
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An examination of the issues of gender and culture in abnormal psychology.

Written in 2004; 1,320 words; 5 sources; MLA; $ 44.95

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that gender and culture play a significant role in the defining of abnormal behavior. Socially-defined gender roles and characteristics frequently place unreal expectations and pressures on individuals, women in particular. It looks at how the desire on the part of Western women to conform to male ideals of womanhood can cause them to view their own bodies and personalities in a negative context.

From the Paper:

"Such discoveries lead naturally into discussions of cross-cultural as well as intra-cultural differences as they relate to attitudes toward the role of women, and toward what is considered ?abnormal? vs. normal. The fact that different societies possess different ideas of masculine and feminine norms speaks eloquently to the notion that these are not biologically-determined characteristics. ?Cultures set a range of opportunities for development; they define the limits of what is desirable, ?normal,? individual variation, and what is ?abnormal? in that culture (although there is some cultural consensus that some forms of deviance and psychopathology are abnormal).? (Reese & Franzen, 1997, pp. 4-5) Recent studies of non-Western peoples have resulted in the discovery that many linkages between emotional and mental states on the one hand, and psychoses or neuroses on the other, are quite different from those connections observed in the West. Even in so seemingly simple a case as the expression of anger (and thus whatever problems its inappropriate expression might entail), there are significant differences from culture to culture: Whereas Eskimos seldom display anger, others employ elaborate and complex means of expressing anger. Likewise, other cultures encourage (i.e., Iranians) or discourage (i.e., Navajos) displays of extreme sadness and sorrow. (Manson, Bechtold, Novins & Beals, 1997, p. 139) By the same token, ?Within-group differences also are evident along these lines, most notably in terms of social class and gender, especially for dysphoria and excessive worry. This appears to be true among mainstream Americans as well as such ethnic minorities as Indians and Natives.? (Manson, Bechtold, Novins & Beals, 1997, p. 139)"

Tags: women men social definition body

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