Individual differences and developmental psychology in mental disorders

Question 1

What are examples of cultural differences in mental health disorders?

Answer 1

In Ghana hearing voices is viewed as a sign of spirituality whilst in the UK its a sign of Sz

Kuru - Papua New Guinea - a tribe eat the brain of those who die, in other cultures its a sign of cannabilism

Question 2

What are examples of gender differences in mental health disorders?

Answer 2

For males Sz has an earlier age of onset (late teens, early twenties) whereas females are more likely to be diagnosed in their late twenties

Widely accepted that men are more reluctant to report any symptoms relating to their mental health to a doctor

Question 3

What are examples of how situational differences in mental health disorders?

Answer 3

Social causation hypothesis suggests stress experienced by individuals in lower classes could trigger an existing genetic predisposition and lead to the onset of Sz

Stress could arise due to adversity factors such as urbanicity, marginalisation and isolation

Question 4

What are examples of how biological factors that cause differences in mental health disorders?

Answer 4

Mental disorders such as Sz and depression have strong genetic influences

One individual may have a higher probability of developing a mental disorder because they have a family member who has already been diagnosed

Question 5

How can developmental psychology such as negative schemata affect mental health disorders?

Answer 5

Schemata through childhood experiences can lead to positive and negative beliefs about the world

Negative schemata may develop during childhood as a result of unpleasant experiences such ad the death of a parent, bullying and lead lead to negative thoughts and depression as an adult

Question 6

How can developmental psychology explain differences in the age of onset for Sz and depression?

Answer 6

Both Sz and depression are mental disorders which develop later on in life

For males, age of onset for Sz is typically late teens to early twenties whereas for females it’s in their late twenties

Both men and women’s age of onset for depression is between 25-44 years

For both disorders, this suggests that a genetic predisposition is likely to be triggered by stress in the persons life as they get older