Читать книгу Abnormal Psychology - William J. Ray - Страница 42

As you will see throughout this book, experiencing a mental illness does not mean that one has to live a limited life. Individuals like John Nash and Terri Cheney not only have had productive careers, but they also have enjoyed successful personal relationships. However, many children, adolescents, and young adults with a mental illness report being told they could never perform in a high-level profession or have the types of relationships that others have.

Figure 1.1 Prevalence of Any Mental Illness Among U.S. Adults (2014)

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-mental-illness-ami-among-us-adults.shtml

There is often a stigma experienced by those with a mental disorder. Historically, stigma has been defined as a mark of disgrace associated with a particular person. In psychological terms, stigma involves negative attitudes and beliefs that cause the general public to avoid certain people, including those with a mental illness. Throughout the world, those with mental illness experience stigma. In many cultures, they are seen as different. When they are thus stigmatized, they are no longer treated as individual people, but only as part of a group who is different. It becomes an “us versus them” way of thinking.

stigma: negative attitudes and beliefs that cause the general public to avoid certain people, including those with a mental illness

Part of the stigma comes from inaccurate information concerning those with mental illness. For example, many people think that anyone with a mental illness is violent. In 2012, there was a mass shooting that killed 20 children and 6 teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Immediately after, it was suggested that the killer had a mental illness. Officials of the National Rifle Association claimed that this could not have been done by a sane person. However, the data do not support a strong relationship between mental disorders and violence.

The MacArthur Foundation followed hospitalized individuals with mental illness after their release and found that only 2% to 3% of them became involved with violence with a gun. As a general rule, individuals with mental illness do not show more violent tendencies than is seen in the general population. However, particular disorders such as psychopathy are associated with serial killers and other violent criminals. Also, substance abuse can increase violence in some individuals. With these exceptions, however, having a mental illness has not been found to increase violence toward others.

Stigma can be seen on a number of levels. If a society believes that mental illness is the fault of the person—and that the person can change himself or herself by willpower—then it is less likely to spend the money necessary to set up clinics and train professionals. For similar reasons, society may also be less likely to set up school-based programs to help adolescents with bullying or suicide. As well, companies may not be willing to include mental health treatment in their insurance coverage, or they may place limits on benefits for treatment of these disorders. In the United States, attitudes are moving toward less stigma. In 1996, for example, 54% of the U.S. population viewed depression as related to neurobiological causes. During the next 10 years, this increased to 67%. With a better understanding of the disorders presented throughout this book, it is possible to have a more compassionate as well as intellectual understanding of those with mental disorders.

As a society, Americans demonstrate a number of different values when considering those with mental illness. On the one hand, we may want to help those who experience distress. On the other hand, we may feel it is their responsibility to take care of themselves. LENS: American Attitudes Toward Mental Illness, portrays some of these differing values.

Concept Check

 What are the four key components of psychopathology? Give an example of each.

 How does reading about the experiences of individuals with mental illness inform our understanding of the nature of psychopathology?

 What are the impacts of mental illness in the United States in any given year?

 Describe the dynamic tension in American attitudes toward mental illness.

behavioral and experiential perspective: examines the behavior and experience observed in psychopathology, especially the manner in which the signs and symptoms of a particular disorder are seen in a similar manner throughout the world