In: Psychology
Discuss the findings of cross culture research on the anxiety disorders provide at least two examples of disorders that illustrate the role of culture
The cultural background of a person affects the manners in which they think or express their emotions. As a result of such huge diversity in cultures all over the world, there have been wide changes identified in the ethnophysiological factors , depending on how a culture consceotualises the manner in which the body of a person and the mind functions. There are differences in the ideas of a person in the mental and physiological processes in which contextual factors will be associated with the norms that are prevalent in the society. Some of the rules prevalent in the society may also be contributing factors to anxiety addition of a person.
These may be in the form of individualism or collectivism. Depending upon the ethnicity of a person, there would be difference in the prevalence rates of anxiety in the area. One such research showed that the prevalence rates in the Asian Americans are the lowest with being approximately 50% lesser than that of the prevalence rates of the white Americans. Also the anxiety prevalence rates in African Americans is almost 1.t times that of the white Americans. African Americans are most likely to be affected by post traumatic stress disorders as compared to any other culture. Whereas, GAD, is mostly seen in white Americans
It has been generally observed that the southeast Asians are more easily embarrassed by the term of a mental disorder or a condition due to the presence of greater social behavior rules as well as regulations as compared to any other culture. This results in increased amount of guilt and self blame, coming from the person within and the negative comments around the person, leading to mental disorders. This is a form of collectivist culture. For indivialist cultures, individual’s own thoughts determine their behaviors.