Study of Mental Disorders

As IB students, you are to study two specific disorders - we will examine one anxiety disorder and one affective disorder.  In our examination of specific phobia and major depressive disorder there are many aspects that are important to understand to develop a well-rounded perspective of each of these mental illnesses. 

To begin, you should understand what it takes to obtain a diagnosis.  What are the generally accepted symptoms, how many are necessary, over what time frame, etc...?

Next, you should be able to explain the cause of each...however, this is not as simple as it may first appear.  Causes can be interpreted differently depending on your view of mental illness and psychology in general.  Is biology a key factor?  What does the data from twin studies seem to show?  Is environment a factor or is it more of a trigger?  Are these disorders dependent on cognitive factors?  Why does this matter?

Finally (for now), what are the risk factors of each disorder?  Does it matter your gender, ethnicity, income level, occupation, age, etc...?

You should use information from the DSM-IV to gain critical insight but more research will also be necessary to answer all the questions. 

Abnormal Psych: Mental Illness

As part of our study of abnormal psychology we will be focusing special attention on two disorders: Specific Phobia and Major Depressive Disorder.  Our areas of study will include:

• the history of mental illness and treatment
• using the DSM-IV to diagnose disroders
• symptoms
• risk-factors
• etiology or (perceived) causes of these disorders
• biological factors
• cognitive factors
• environmental factors
• treatments
• biological factors
• cognitive factors
• environmental factors

A History of the Madhouse:  http://youtu.be/tpr7bq2dV-8

Analyzing Culture

Culture is comparable to a personality: it is difficult to pinpoint and does not hold true at all times.  However, just like an individual's personality, a culture gives the most accurate explanation and prediction of behavior.  In the case of culture we are talking about the thinking and behavioral tendencies of a group of people and culture does indeed influence our personal behaviors and beliefs.

Using the five dimensions of culture, you are to analyze your native country and explain the tendencies in each area that might be expected of someone from that culture.  You should begin your analysis by explaining (in your own words) each of the five dimensions.

geert-hofstede.com

Cultural Dimensions of Behavior

After completing the brief reading assignment on pages 134-138 in your textbook, please visit the link below to learn more about the cultural distinctions of a variety of countries throughout the world.  How does the behavior of people in various countries differ when it comes to performing their jobs?  Choose five countries for comparison and start investigating their cultural tendencies.

http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html

Stereotyping - What are the effects?

You should know by this point what stereotyping is and you should also be aware of the social-cognitive theory of why people develop and use stereotypes. Now you are going to examen how stereotypes can affect you.  Read the article, " How Stereotypes Defeat the Stereotyped", and  write a brief explanation of the effect researchers are now calling "stereotype threat."  Give an example of how this concept works and explain what researches have determined about the impact stereotypes have on those they target.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1900261,00.html 

Be ready to share your analysis in class on Monday.

Social Identity Theory

We have been studying the concept of Social Identity Theory over the past several days.  After watching (and discussing in class) the case study of the 3rd grade class from Iowa, we have a better understanding of the method used to divide people into "ingroups" and "outgroups" based on something as simple (and silly) as the color of one's eyes.  This case study helped sociologists and psychologists to see intergroup behaviors at work in the real world. 

Your assignment has three parts:

1. Have the notes we took in class and watch the video(s) linked below.  The one entitled "A Class Divided" explains the original case study.  The second video, "An Angry Eye" gives a more modern version of this study to show in greater detail how these intergroup behaviors are used to divide people into groups.

A Class Divided:  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6189991712636113875#

An Angry Eye:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf2LB0IG1xo

2. Write a two paragraph, short essay about how how you recognize the concepts discussed in class (from your notes) being demonstrated by this case study.  Provide detail of actual examples - things such as the language used and the behavior exhibited by the ingroup versus the outgroup.  This essay should be posted to your blog.

3. Identify a real life example of an ingroup (could be one you belong to but does not have to be) and their competing outgroup.  Explain, using examples, how the ingroup effectively uses the concepts we discussed in class to establish, increase and maintain the divide between themselves and the outgroup. Research online to find news stories that serve as evidence of this intergroup behavior - include these examples in your essay.  This second, seperate essay should be at least 500 words in length and should be posted to your blog. 

Errors of Attribution

To what do you attribute your success?  If you win an athletic contest or perform really well on the SAT, was your success due to your dispositional characteristics or simply to something outside your control, such as luck?  How about the success of your rival?  We all have tendencies to attribute behavior to one cause or another but how often to we make errors in our judgment?  Studies tell us that it depends on the culture from which you come.

Answer the following questions that relate to attribution styles and errors as well as cultural differences:
The following links may be of some help but feel free to use your textbook and other resources.
http://psych.wisc.edu/Miyamoto/CACL/Miyamoto%20&%20Kitayama%2002.pdf
http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/81/5/922/ )

1. What is the difference between dispositional factors and situational factors?
2. Explain and give an example of the fundamental error of attribution.
3. Explain and give an example of the self-serving-bias error of attribution.
4. Explain two possible explanations for these errors.
5. What does the study by Miyamoto and Kitayama tell us about cultural differences in attribution errors?

Now, read this short article: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201005/excuses-excuses-excuses-why-people-lie-cheat-and-procrastinate and write a two paragraph essay explaining the role of attribution errors in things such as cheating and lying.