One fascinating area of research on culture and mental health focuses on culture-specific disorders (also known as culture-bound syndromes). These terms refer to forms of mental illness that are unique to a certain culture or locate According to Junko Tanaka-Matsumi (2001), researchers have taken two major approaches to understanding culture-specific disorders. One approach, the universalist view, holds that there exist similarities in mental disorders across cultures, but the expression of these disorders differs from culture to culture. Universalistic researchers might focus on evidence that depression and schizophrenia can be identified in cultures throughout the world (see, for example, World Health Organization, 1979; 1983). A second perspective, the cultural relativist approach, suggests that some disorders are unique to a specific culture and may only be understood within the context of that culture (see, for example, Kirmayer, 2005). Relativistic researchers focus n the distinctive cultural features of some mental disorders. This activity was designed to encourage you to explore these two perspectives on culture and mental illness.
Directions: Choose a culture-specific disorder to investigate using library or internet resources (an appendix of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual—DSM-IV–also describes culture-specific disorders). Several culture-specific disorders are listed below, though you may discover others in your search. Before you start, read through the questions that follow and be prepared to address these with the information you gather.
amok
brain fag/fog
latah
ataque de nervios
dhat
pibloktoq
billis and colera
hwa-byung
susto
bourfee dierante
koro
zar
Identify and describe the disorder you selected
a. Where does it take place?
b. Who is affected by it?
c. What is perceived to be the cause?
d. What are the accompanying symptoms?
Tanaka Matsumi and Draguns (1997) caution that universal systems for classifying disorders may lose sight of important aspects of the cultural context. For example, Draguns (1973) observed that the expression of mental disorders within a specified culture tends to be an exaggeration of the normal. In the case of taijin-kyofusho, the symptoms expressed indicate an exaggeration of the Japanese value of sensitivity toward others (Tanaka-Matsumi & Draguns, 1997). Consider the cultural context of the disorder you investigated Can this disorder be viewed as an exaggeration of the normal? Please explain.
Do you endorse a universalist or a cultural relativist approach to classifying mental disorders? Please explain.
Sample Solution
