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Psychology 307: Cultural Psychology

April 3

Lecture 22

Reminders

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1. Paper due date: April 8.

Questions?

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2. Please complete your evaluation for this course. Your evaluation will be anonymous and secure.

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To date, 14% of students have completed the evaluation.

A little R&R ….(Review and Reflect)

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Mental Health

1. What psychological disorders are culture-bound?

2. Are Western psychotherapeutic approaches effective for the treatment of psychological disorders among individuals living in non-Western cultures?

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2. describe indigenous forms of psychotherapy.

1. generate examples of culture-bound disorders.

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

3. discuss the efficacy of indigenous forms of psychotherapy.

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What psychological disorders are culture-bound?

1. Amok

The most widely observed culture-bound syndrome, identified in several Southeast Asian countries (e.g., Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand).

More common among males than females.

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Characterized by wild, aggressive behaviour of limited duration in which there are attempts to kill or injure others. Brooding and withdrawal proceed the outburst. Exhaustion and amnesia follow the outburst.

Precipitated by a slight or insult; brought on by stress, sleep deprivation, and alcohol consumption.

Hypothesized to emerge in societies that encourage people to be passive and nonconfrontational; pent up frustrations erupt as rage.

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2. Pibloktoq (Artic hysteria)

Identified among Arctic and sub-Arctic Inuit communities, such as the Greenland Eskimos.

More common among females than males.

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Characterized by extreme excitement, physical violence, verbal abuse, and convulsions. Individuals

flee from protective shelters, tear off their clothing, and expose themselves to the extreme temperatures. Individuals may imitate the cry of an animal or bird.

Brought on by environmental conditions (e.g., isolation, darkness) and dietary deficiencies.

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3. Shinbyeong (Spirit sickness)

Identified among Koreans.

More common among females than males.

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Characterized by a loss of appetite, weakness, insomnia, dizziness, fear, and gastrointestinal problems.

Symptoms progress to include mental disturbances: Dreams of communication with God, hallucinations, dissociation, possession by ancestral spirits.

Brought on by a spiritual “calling” to become a shaman.

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4. Witiko (Windigo psychosis)

Identified among the Algonquian Indians.

More common among males than females.

Characterized by an insatiable desire to eat human flesh even when other food sources are available. Individuals are thought to be possessed by the “witiko spirit.” If the condition cannot be cured, sufferers often request that they be executed in order to avoid

harming others.

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Brought on by prior experience of famine.

A highly debated disorder (is it a racist fabrication?).

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5. Other disorders

The DSM recognizes a host of other culture-bound syndromes. Examples: Ataque de nervios, Brain fag, Dhat, Frigophobia, Hikikomori, Koro, Rootwork, Taijin Kyoufushou (TKS), Susto.

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Are Western psychotherapeutic approaches effective for the treatment of psychological disorders among individuals living in non-Western cultures?

● Several evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches are used in Western cultures. Examples:

Cognitive-behavioural therapy: Modification of debilitating thoughts and behaviours.

Interpersonal therapy: Interpersonal skills training.

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● Research has established the effectiveness of these approaches for treating North Americans of European descent.

● Some research (Miranda, 2005) suggests that these approaches are effective for members of other cultural groups in North America.

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● Recently, there has been an increased interest among researchers in indigenous therapeutic approaches.

● Indigenous therapeutic approaches have been found to be comparable to CBT and IPT in their effectiveness.

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1. Morita therapy

Developed in Japan.

Goal of therapy: To have patients accept reality rather than attempt to bring reality in line with personal needs and desires.

Four stages:

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(a) total bed rest and isolation.

(b) light work, maintenance of a diary, continued isolation with the exception of therapist visits.

(c) heavier work, continued maintenance of a diary, participation in lectures on self-control and the evils of egocentricity.

(d) return to full social life, continued out-patient contact with the therapist in group sessions.

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2. Naikan therapy

Developed in Japan.

Goals of therapy:

(a) The discovery of authentic guilt for having been ungrateful and troublesome to others in the past.

(b) The discovery of gratitude towards individuals who have extended themselves to the patient in the past.

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Procedure: The patient introspects for 15 hours per day, for 7 days. The patient considers relationships from 3 perspectives: Care received, repayment, and trouble caused.

Interviews are conducted every 90 minutes, in “a boldly moralistic manner, placing the burden of blame on the client” (Murase, 1982, p. 318).

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3. Chinese Taoist cognitive therapy

Developed in China.

Goal of therapy: To regulate patients’ negative affect and correct maladaptive behaviour through the

reinforcement of Taoist principles.

Taoism “focuses on conforming to natural laws, letting go of excessive control, and the flexible development of personality” (Zhang et al., 2002).

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(a) identify stressors that contribute to the patient’s illness.

(b) examine the patient’s cognitive evaluations of the stressors.

(c) analyze the patient’s primary coping styles.

Five stages:

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(d) have the patient read Taoist writings and reflect upon the writings in a diary.

(e) assess the effectiveness of the treatment via patient self-reports and clinical assessments.

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2. describe indigenous forms of psychotherapy.

1. generate examples of culture-bound disorders.

By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

3. discuss the efficacy of indigenous forms of psychotherapy.