©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
IB Psychology HL - Abnormal Psychology Case
Studies Exam Study Guide Solutions
Szasz (1960) - Ans:✔✔-- first argued that mental illness was a myth in an article and later in his
controversial text The Myth of Mental Illness.
- His basic premise is that many psychological disorders should not be categorized as diseases like
physical disorders as they are really "problems in living".
- All of us face dilemmas and struggles but this does not mean that we are mentally ill.
- He was highly critical of these problems being treated as if they were medical problems and he argued
against using diagnostic systems like the DSM because they imply that there is an actual disease.
- Szasz's views remain highly controversial and his central idea that mental illness is a myth has been
dismissed as going too far (Poulsen, 2012).
- However, his ideas still spark debate about how to define normality and abnormality and ensure that
the ethical consequences of diagnosis are not overlooked.
Burr (2002) - Ans:✔✔-Aim: how cultural stereotypes of women from South Asian communities affected
mental health care professionals' explanations for patterns of suicide and depression.
Page 1/10
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Method: conducted qualitative research using focus groups and individual interviews to determine if
there were cultural stereotypes about South Asian communities.
- Participants were mental health carers from a UK inner city area of relatively high social deprivation. -
Focus group interviews were conducted with a range of mental health care professionals who worked in
both inpatient and outpatient mental health care services.
- In addition, individual interviews were conducted with consultant psychiatrists and general medical
doctors.
Results: Analysis of data from the interviews suggests that health carers held cultural stereotypes.
- The South Asian culture was perceived as repressive, patriarchal (patriarchal = dominated by males)
and inferior to a western cultural ideal.
- Burr contended that these stereotypes have the potential to misdirect diagnosis.
Angel and Thoits (1987) - Ans:✔✔-Aim: to see how cognitive interpretations cary between cultures. They
took as an example under-reporting of in Mexico of certain mental disorders
Page 2/10
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
IB Psychology HL - Abnormal Psychology Case
Studies Exam Study Guide Solutions
Szasz (1960) - Ans:✔✔-- first argued that mental illness was a myth in an article and later in his
controversial text The Myth of Mental Illness.
- His basic premise is that many psychological disorders should not be categorized as diseases like
physical disorders as they are really "problems in living".
- All of us face dilemmas and struggles but this does not mean that we are mentally ill.
- He was highly critical of these problems being treated as if they were medical problems and he argued
against using diagnostic systems like the DSM because they imply that there is an actual disease.
- Szasz's views remain highly controversial and his central idea that mental illness is a myth has been
dismissed as going too far (Poulsen, 2012).
- However, his ideas still spark debate about how to define normality and abnormality and ensure that
the ethical consequences of diagnosis are not overlooked.
Burr (2002) - Ans:✔✔-Aim: how cultural stereotypes of women from South Asian communities affected
mental health care professionals' explanations for patterns of suicide and depression.
Page 1/10
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Method: conducted qualitative research using focus groups and individual interviews to determine if
there were cultural stereotypes about South Asian communities.
- Participants were mental health carers from a UK inner city area of relatively high social deprivation. -
Focus group interviews were conducted with a range of mental health care professionals who worked in
both inpatient and outpatient mental health care services.
- In addition, individual interviews were conducted with consultant psychiatrists and general medical
doctors.
Results: Analysis of data from the interviews suggests that health carers held cultural stereotypes.
- The South Asian culture was perceived as repressive, patriarchal (patriarchal = dominated by males)
and inferior to a western cultural ideal.
- Burr contended that these stereotypes have the potential to misdirect diagnosis.
Angel and Thoits (1987) - Ans:✔✔-Aim: to see how cognitive interpretations cary between cultures. They
took as an example under-reporting of in Mexico of certain mental disorders
Page 2/10
