Assignment Task: How do our history and culture affect our understanding of psychological disorders? What, if anything, can be done to reduce the stigma attached to psychological disorders? Do the photographs, videos, and stories mentioned above help people to better understand the disorders, or do they serve to further stigmatize the disorders? Explain.
Studies have shown that having a low socioeconomic status (SES) increases the risk factor for developing a mental illness. Why might this be the case? Think about some of the symptoms of psychological disorders. What connections do you see between the symptoms and low SES?