ABSTRACT
Two leading sociological theorists of mental illness, Parsons and Scheff, depict the mentally ill as enacting a deviant social role which sets them apart from others. For each of these writers, persons so identified internalize the social definition of themselves which then serves as a guide for their future behavior. This social imagery specifies what kinds of people the mentally ill are, why they behave as they do and how to react to them in both the evaluative and interactional sense. Divergence between the theoretical perspectives arises chiefly over the nature of the cues which set resocialization in motion and the content of the cultural imagery incorporated into the individual's self-conception when he enters the mental illness role. In a study of psychiatric patients and the general public, we test a series of hypotheses which are derived from Parsons' sick role and Scheff's labeling theories of mental illness. As a result of the research, both the theories are found wanting for patients and the symptomatic public alike did not view themselves negatively which is what one would expect according to labeling and patients and the public both were reticient to seek out professional assistance for their symptoms and problems, a find contrary to sick role theory. Suggestions for modifications of the theories are offered.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Sick Role , Socialization , Humans , Public Opinion , Referral and Consultation , Set, Psychology , Social SupportSubject(s)
Attitude to Health , Culture , Mental Disorders/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Behavior , Child , Child, Preschool , Denial, Psychological , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Nebraska , Research Design , Sick Role , Socioeconomic Factors , Sociology, MedicalABSTRACT
The characteristics of more than 12,000 persons from developing countries who received training in population and family planning subjects during 1966-78 are reviewed. During these years many changes occurred with regard to trainee origin, professional background, nature and duration of training program attended, and other important characteristics. The observed patterns of trainee characteristics over time suggest the presence of defined stages of manpower training that are largely predictable. These trends suggest an empirical basis for anticipating future training needs and for evaluating training activities.
Subject(s)
Family Planning Services , Health Occupations/education , Adult , Data Collection , Developing Countries , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Psychological Theory , Self Concept , Sick Role , Culture , Humans , Models, Psychological , SocializationSubject(s)
Educational Status , Gender Identity , Identification, Psychological , Marriage , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Age Factors , Employment , Female , Humans , NebraskaSubject(s)
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Age Factors , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Nebraska , Psychometrics , Sex Factors , Statistics as Topic , Stress, PsychologicalSubject(s)
Epidemiologic Methods , Psychophysiologic Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Educational Status , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Psychophysiologic Disorders/diagnosis , Sex Factors , Social Class , Statistics as Topic , Stress, Physiological , Surveys and Questionnaires , Telephone , United StatesSubject(s)
Factor Analysis, Statistical , Mental Disorders/drug therapy , Psychopharmacology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability , Intelligence , Male , Methods , Placebos , Sex Factors , Tranquilizing Agents/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Conflict, Psychological , Role , Social Class , Stress, Psychological , Female , Humans , Male , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
Two scoring methods, a conditional probability method and the currently used summational method, were tested with a psychiatric case identification instrument, the 22-item Mid-town index. The two methods very similarly classified, as either ill or well, persons in both a patient and a community sample. Although the less costly summational method is preferable for current use with the 22-item index, the conditional probability method appears to have advantages worthy of further research. Possible approaches for improving the conditional probability method for use in case identification are presented.
