SWPS TEST REVIEW

Defining Mental Illness : 

Defining Mental Illness Metal illness definitions vary: two perspectives, biological, behavioral Biological – emphasizes genetic configuration problems, neurological activity or brain chemistry. Behavioral – failure of personality or personal development. Seen as a failure to confirm, violating social norms - labeled mad, crazy, MI

Defining Mental Illness cont’d : 

Defining Mental Illness cont’d DSM used to define all mental problems & this document changed with time. Historically, it defined mental illness based on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral indicators. DSM - dominated by the medical model and not a moral failure as people thought. MI - seen through different lenses - as Eccentricity, Sin, Disease, & Disability.

Mental Illness as Eccentricity or Uniqueness : 

Mental Illness as Eccentricity or Uniqueness MI - eccentricity among some artists is tolerated and seen as creativity. Some of the nation’s most creative artists were diagnosed with depression & schizophrenia. MI - used in some totalitarian regimes to silence political opposition. China, Russia.

Mental Illness as Sin : 

Mental Illness as Sin Early 18th century MI was seen as a consequence of sin. MI related to moral, personal or familial failure. Treatment took the form of prayer, repentance & exorcism. Incarceration was not considered.

History of Intervention for the MI cont’d : 

History of Intervention for the MI cont’d Pinel – moral tx (structured environment). Treatment which comprised of a structured environment seemed to work. Treatment was provided to those who could pay – class-based system. Dorothea Dix – Apostle of the Insane - p 239. http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/dorotheadix.html The great Depression resulted in diversion of money to other sources.

MI in the US today : 

MI in the US today Studies carried out by NIMH demonstrated that nearly 50% of Americans suffered at least some psychiatric disorder. Most common are depression and alcohol dependency. Comorbidity, the presence of more than one disorder, is a concern for treatment staff. Most times – addiction and mental illness.

Children as assets : 

Children as assets Children were seen as assets during colonial & post colonial period in United States (economic assets). Children labor contributed to the family well being. Fathers & masters had right of custody for children under their care. Corp punishment 1655 - 1st recorded case of child abuse for which a master was charged.

Children as assets cont’d : 

Children as assets cont’d In the late 19th centaury child labor drew attention, because employers hired the youngest to work the longest hours. 1916 act failed to stop child labor. States prohibited employment for children under 14 yrs. 14-16 granted employment dependent on school restrictions. Need for child labor diminished due industrialization. (In Rev)

Children as Victims, cont’d : 

Children as Victims, cont’d Children were abused in indentureship and in foster homes. Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act 1974 – mandatory reporting by health care professionals of suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. More children was placed into foster care as a result of this law.

Violence Against Women : 

Violence Against Women Domestic violence was sanctioned provided the husband “did not kill or maim” his wife. This gave rise to the battered-women’s movement – 1970 – Rape although seen as an offense, women were forced to demonstrate that it was not consensual. Rape shield law prevented documentation regarding a woman’s sexual history from being introduced by the defense during trial

Women as Wives & Mothers cont’d : 

Women as Wives & Mothers cont’d This interfered with commerce – (profit driven). In 1839 States began to remove the restrictions on women’s legal capacity. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 prohibited discrimination in lending on the basis of sex.

Women as Wives & Mothers –Reproductive rights : 

Women as Wives & Mothers –Reproductive rights Strong struggle by women to have reproductive freedom. Roe v Wade – 1973, “involved the constitutionality of a law prohibiting abortion except to save a mother’s life”.

Elderly – Defining Old Age : 

Elderly – Defining Old Age Do you have any family who you consider to be elderly and how old is that person? Old age is defined by the level of development of the society, that seeks to define it. (Past - 40 years, 50years). Today retirement programs, senior organizations, & life expectancy define old age as between 50 & 80 years old. Old age is socially constructed.

Cultural Perspective on Old Age cont’d : 

Cultural Perspective on Old Age cont’d In the past old age meant sickness, death, being poor etc, but today people are living longer and without any illness & wealthy. Today age defies past social construct as to how the old should be treated. Culturally the old is treated differently based on the custom, & attitudes about the elderly. -- Native America, African American, & European American.

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – African American : 

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – African American Born in slavery, there were no assurances of comfortable retirement for slaves.28 -32 yrs. They were tales of slave owners emancipating elderly slaves thereby free themselves of the responsibility to care for the old slaves. Others banished their old slaves to fend for themselves. Young A/American slaves treated elderly with deference & respect. (“aunt” & “uncles”).

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – African American cont’d : 

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – African American cont’d Older slaves exercised authority over young slaves. Older women were assigned to teach & care for the children (respect the elders). This tradition of respect was traced to West Africa, where elders were considered the repository of wisdom, rituals, etc. Fictive relations was a survival mechanism.

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – European Immigrants : 

Cultural Perspective on Old Age – European Immigrants Early European immigrants were judged socially by their wealth & gender. Elderly people who held sizable estates enjoyed commensurate prestige. Women depended on their husband’s wealth for old age. Wills 1/3 of value. To the elderly without wealth, old age meant death & abject poverty.

Historical Overview of Ethnic Groups in the US - Policies affecting them : 

Historical Overview of Ethnic Groups in the US - Policies affecting them Minorities (racial out-groups) experience structural discrimination – a series of obstacles that singly & together, interfere with the advancement of their members into the social & economic mainstream of American society. They are subject to racism in personal interaction with employers, teachers, police, training programs, housing, banking, school, etc. Result – fewer resources, lower life expectancy, poorer educational achievement. P 428 – 440.

Defining Homosexuality cont’d : 

Defining Homosexuality cont’d Psychiatric theory – psychopathology – 1973 it was removed from DSM. Persecution of individuals on the basis of any personal identity (race, gender, religion, sexual orientation) is against democratic values & constitutional guarantees. (Out group – sexual minority)

Marriage & Family Formation : 

Marriage & Family Formation GLBT people lack legal sanction for a relationship – consequences. Efforts to prevent GLBT from legally marrying & defense of the Marriage Act resulted in the “civil union” bill in Vermont 2000– same rights as heterosexual couples. Defense of Marriage Act 1996 (DOMA) although does not interfere with state decisions, ruled that marriage - legal union – man & woman

People With Disabilities – History and Policies : 

People With Disabilities – History and Policies Disability refers to the absence of ability. “Person with disability”. Human beings are born with differences – some trace disabilities to accidents or injuries & illnesses. People with disabilities share a common experience of vulnerability, exclusion, & discrimination.

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d : 

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d Four approaches to defining disability: Medical model – impairment resulting from loss or abnormality of physiological or anatomical structure or function – medical in nature. Economic model – disability is about lost productivity; the inability to work. The focus for SW is on social policy to provide income.

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d : 

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d 3. Functional model – inability to perform specific activities, like walking or talking – Focus is on physical rehabilitation. 4. Ecological model – disability results from interaction between individuals & the environment. To rectify requires equal access to education, housing services & employment.

Definition of Disability cont’d : 

Definition of Disability cont’d ADA 1990 – “disability” is defined as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more ….major life activities. “Impairment” refers to “any physical disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more [body systems] or mental or psychological disorder”.

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d : 

People With Disabilities – History and Policies cont’d People with disabilities were not allowed to live in the past. – babies in tribes. Industrial revolution – stopped working from home – not welcomed in factories. Kept at home or sent out “cap in hand” Birth of disabled child was seen as a sin. There is no single disability policy- several acts. Piece meal way of addressing issues.

America with Disabilities Act of 1990 : 

America with Disabilities Act of 1990 ADA had it origin in the National Council on Disability. (Disability leaders) NCD agreed that the disability bias was a distinct type of prejudice (injustice). It bars discrimination by covered employers, calls for reasonable accommodation in employment, public service & transportation, & public accommodation. Companies 15 or more employees.

Definition of Policy Practice : 

Definition of Policy Practice Policy practice generally refers to efforts to change policies. Policy practice is the efforts to change policies in the legislative, agency, and community setting, whether by establishing new policies, improving existing ones , or defeating policy initiatives of other people.

TASKS AND SKILLS OF POLICY PRACTIONERS – TASKS : 

TASKS AND SKILLS OF POLICY PRACTIONERS – TASKS Six tasks of policy practioners Agenda-setting task – P/A gauge if the context, climate –place on the agenda. Problem-analyzing task – analyze the cause, nature, & prevalence of issue. Proposal-writing task – P/A develop solutions to specific problems.

TASKS cont’d : 

TASKS cont’d 4. Policy-enacting task – P/A try to have policies approved and enacted. 5. Policy-implementation task – P/A continue to work to carry out enacted policies. Several groups shape implementation – unions, professionals, legislators etc.

TASKS cont’d : 

TASKS cont’d 6. Policy-assessing task – P/A evaluate programs by obtaining data about implemented policy performance. The same person can carry out all six tasks, on the same policy, at the same time. The tasks sometimes are not carried out sequentially.

POLICY PRACTCE SKILLS : 

POLICY PRACTCE SKILLS Four skills of policy practioners Analytical skills – to evaluate social problems & develop policy proposal, identify barriers, analyze severity, barriers to implementation. Political skills – to gain & use power & to develop & implement political strategy.

SKILLS cont’d : 

SKILLS cont’d 3. Interactional skills – to participate in task groups and persuade people to support specific policy. 4. Value-clarifying skills – to identify & rank relevant principles, when engaging in p/p. Effective policy practioners need all of the skills