Psychopathology from an African Perspective (Tut 501 Flashcards
What is ethnocentrism
It’s the viewing and interpretation of the behavior of others through one’s own cultural background.
Define stereotype
Are fixed attitudes beliefs or opinions about people who belong to culture other than our own.
How are people different and what impact does it have
We are different from other cultures through research or everyday experience and interaction.
The consequence thereof can be negative when values like good bad right wrong superior inferior are attached to behavior that’s different from one’s own.
What are etics and emics
Etic refers to a universal truth or principle
Emic refers to truths that are culture specific
Discuss the universalist approach
Characterised as etic that assumes universally accepted definition of abnormality and methodology.
Essence of approach is the assumption of universal quality of the human psyche and that mental illness is universal so people are alike and require uniform treatment regardless of Thier racial and cultural background.
What problems are identified with the universalist approach
May detract from understanding of environmental influences and the unique motivation showing disregard for group in group and individual variability and the issue of labelling which stigmatising and stereotypes patients
What problems are identified with the universalist approach
Reliance on expression of subjective distress is problematic in that expressing and describing distress psychologically isn’t shared by every culture.
What is a valuable feature of cultural relativism
Is ability to challenge the presumed universality of standards which actually belong to one culture
Discuss the relativistic approach
Characterised as emic that assumes culturally relative definition of abnormality.
What value does cultural relativism hold
In trying to understand illness in different contexts relativists gain a full picture as possible of the meaning of the illness to the suffer in the context of the suffers own family community and spiritual background
What is one flaw of the relativistic approach
It often sees society as being stagnant and cultural groups as maintaining their meaning structure in a stable uncontaminated way ignoring the dynamic changing nature of the social world and that individuals can carry different internalisions of Thier culture
What other problems are found with relativism
No comparisons across context are possible as meaning differ in different places which can lead to knowledge being fragmented and hard to categorise.
Define culture
It is the sum total of ways of living including values beliefs sense of beauty language patterns of thinking Behavioural norms and styles of communication that a group of people have developed to assure Thier survival in a certain environment
State the possible explanations for the role of culture in psychopathology
- Psychosocial stressors may be specific to a certain culture. The wide use of stress as an explanatory construct for abnormal behavior may be related to a current crisis in community with widespread repression violence and social disruption. These stressors themselves aren’t pathogenic but become so in relation with other cultural elements and personal vulnerability
- A result of a combination of certain etiologic factors certain syndromes may occur frequently in one culture more than others
- The basic structure of disorders based on universal psychopathology reactions is universally the same the contents of the disorder being symptoms or overt manifestations is pathoplasticically shaped by culture.
- Culture defines what a community views as mentally disturbed behavior. Different communities have different expectations of mental illness
- Culture shapes attitude towards the mentally ill
State the possible explanations for the role of culture in psychopathology
- Culture provides models for interpretation and experience of illness and healing
- Psychopathology differs within as well as across cultures
- Conceptions of psychopathology differ Within culture especially in multicultural societies
- Cultural shifts can lead to prevalent forms of psychopathology in times of social change when people don’t know what norms to follow and have lost sense of meaning in life that culture provides
- Beliefs and perceptions become psychotic when they are at variance with the prevailing cultural norms
What is the western approach
Disease oriented where patient is inclined to focus on symptoms and less emphasis on social issues. They are more rational and makes decisions without consensus or support of others
What is the traditional approach
Socially oriented in interpretation of health illness and requires consensus among all concerned of what constitutes health and abnormal symptoms and signs
Define worldview
The way in which individuals perceive their relationship to the world and interpret and make sense of their reality
Define and discuss the African worldview
Implies that we look at Africa from the perspective of Africans which places strong emphasis on humanity ( Ubuntu) which means that people are people in the presence of other people and are regarded as the center of the universe
Spirits of ancestors are important and are honoured where the manner in which people relate to one another and the rituals which surrounds the slaughtering of animals in appeasement of ancestors are instances of the sense of spirituality that characterizes this perspective and people believe in the supernatural and natural explanation for illness
There’s strong belief in the unity of the spirit mind and body and the sense of connection is evident in people’s relationship with those who are part of the extended family clan and community
Discuss the western worldview
Based on cultural adaptation to living conditions in western countries. Emphasize strong focus on individualism where privacy and self reliance is important. An individual is expected to be independent self sufficient able to survive on their own
Material object are valued and has a sense that what you have is equally or more important than who you are. Owing possession is regarded as significant indications of well being and success
Competition is expected and practised everywhere. Family is defined in a personal manner. Time seen moving from past to present with focus on future
Expand on the traditional African perspective of psychopathology
Has holistic view of well being where minimal distinction made between physical and mental functions as there is a strong belief in unity of spirit mind and matter. Interrelatedness of life forms environment as cosmos is taken for granted
The physical and psychological systems are interconnected and changed in one brings about changes in all others so illness mental health and wellness are holistic and cosmological in emphasis and recognise that social factors influence the causation maintenance or cure of abnormalities
It’s believed problem of abnormalities resides in relationship with others and ancestral spirit. Mental problems are the results of failure in human relationships in the form of lack of respect for kin or envy and jealousy of people.
Behavior threatening well being and equilibrium of social system like selfishness aggressiveness arrogance and envy are pathological
Reality is culture bound and life forms are interrelated with each other and mother nature and Cosmo. Sorcery or disharmony in the relationship between person and ancestors is held responsible for many forms of psychopathology
What factors make up theories of illness
Perspective relies on belief of supernatural appeasement of ancestors and extended family system. The origin of sick is considered as combination of punishment from god’s for evil deeds a curse witchcraft offense against god’s disruption of harmony in earlier life natural causes breaking of taboos or custom a disruption in social relationships angry ancestors and possession of evil spirits
What is involved in healing
Spirituality traditional norms and rituals are important for healing where healing process is set in motion by traditional healers and it is more intuitive experencial symbolic.
Into what 2 categories are mental disorders divided
Umkhuhlane ( caused by natural factors)
Ukufa kwabantu ( caused by supernatural factors/ ancestors
What are culture specific syndromes
Forms of abnormal behavior observed only in certain sociocultural contexts which are conceived to be a collection of signs symbol and symptoms restricted to a limited number of cultures
Describe Sejeso
Found among Sotho Twana people characterised by belief that an enemy has poisoned ones food or drink and accompanying intense anxiety
Describe Moriti Wa Letswele
Characteristically female condition found among Sotho Tswana people characterised by a psychogenic pain under the left breast
Describe malombo Venda Malopo Kgaga and Lobedu pedi
Spirit possession manifested in patient complaining of being physically unwell and processes until patients collapses in a trance and has to undergo a malombo music service to serve therapeutic purpose curing the symptoms
What is ukulthwasa
Thwasa is treated by animal sacrifices or training to become a diviner. Divination is a state of altered consciousness during which diviner is a medium through which ancestors make wishes instructions treatment known.
Among Nguni an illness believed to be sent by ancestors regarded as a calling by the ancestors to become a traditional healer through an experience called thwasa which is like an episode of illness with symptoms like stomach ache nervousness hiccups back ache pain in wrist numbness. Individual tends to withdraw from social life and is mentally confused.
Describe amafufunyane
A form of spirit possession due to witchcraft where a mix of soil and ants from graveyard believe to be used to make harmful concoction placed in path of victim or in their food causing them to go mad
What symptoms are shown with amafufunyane
Psychosis depressive or bipolar to conduct disorders somatoform hysteria sucidality violence restlessness delusions fearfulness disorientation aggression tactile hallucinations physical pressure on the head.
