The Globalization of the American Psyche

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to reflect on the new information presented in this book. It is meant to increase your awareness and critical thinking about the experience and treatment of common psychological disorders in the US and around the world.

Reading to Critically Evaluate

Please read the Introduction to Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche, by Ethan Watters. Please note, you are being asked to read the Introduction, not Chapter 1!

You are encouraged to ask questions of the reading as you read, make notes of areas of confusion, surprise, or disagreement, and include that in your pa.per.

Directions

Write two paragraphs (minimum of 200 words) in which you identify Watter’s main thesis in the Introduction and discuss your overall thoughts and reactions to the main thesis.
Write a one-paragraph response (minimum of 100 words) to ONE of the following questions listed below.
Include two quotes from the chapter that stood out to you. Include the page number or time stamps where your quotes can be found.

Questions (choose only one)

What do you think are the cultural beliefs and stories Americans might use to understand mental illness?
How do you react to the idea that a major motivator for universal disease categories is that drug companies stand to make billions off drugs to cure them? (page 4)

Grading

Full points for the assignment will be earned when all 3 portions of the assignment are met. Two-paragraph (minimum of 200 words) general reaction (6pts), one-paragraph response (minimum of 100 words) to question (2pts), two quotes with page numbers/time stamps (2pts). Check out the rubric!

KEY TAKEAWAYS BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS ASSIGNMENT

In his Introduction to Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche, Ethan Watters makes a compelling argument that the American approach to mental health is becoming the dominant model of understanding mental illness worldwide. He cites a range of cases in which the American model of mental illness has been exported, including the introduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to Sri Lanka and the acceptance of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in China. Watters argues that this globalization of mental health creates a homogen

Rubrics are an important tool for assessment and evaluation in higher education, as evidenced by YM Reddy and H Andrade in their 2010 study published by Taylor & Francis. Rubrics are a set of criteria that can be used to measure student learning and performance. They can be used to measure academic achievement, but they can also be used to assess non-academic objectives such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. Rubrics provide a meaningful and consistent approach to measurement, allowing teachers to assess student progress in an equitable and consistent manner. Rubrics can also be used to provide feedback to students, allowing them to understand how they can improve their performance. Rubrics provide a detailed description of the expected performance in a given task, which can help students focus their effort on the most important aspects of the task and improve their overall performance. Thus, rubrics are an important tool for evaluation and assessment in higher education, and should be utilized in order to optimize student learning.

In his 2010 book, Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche, Ethan Watters takes an in-depth look at how the export of American mental health treatments around the world has had a profound effect on the mental health of other cultures. Watters’ main thesis argues that American mental health treatments, while they have been successful in treating mental illness in the US, are not always effective when applied to other cultures. Watters contends that, rather than trying to impose Western models of mental health on other cultures, we should instead be trying to understand the mental health of other cultures and adapting treatments to best suit their needs. He further argues that by doing this, we could potentially create more effective treatments for mental illness and lead to better outcomes for people in other cultures. Ultimately, Watters’ book serves as a warning against the potential harm that can be done when American mental health treatments are exported without taking into account the cultural context in which they are being applied.

In his book Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche, Ethan Watters examines the growing trend of homogenization of mental health illnesses as the American approach to mental health continues to be exported to other countries. Watters argues that the American model of understanding mental illness is becoming the dominant model of understanding mental illness worldwide (Watters, 2010). He explains that the American approach to mental health is based on the medical model of mental illness, which encourages the use of pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy. Watters points out that this approach has been adopted in many parts of the world, and it is quickly becoming the standard for treating mental health issues. This has resulted in a homogenization of mental health illnesses, as the same type of treatments are being applied to different cultures and contexts. Watters further argues that this homogenization is not necessarily beneficial, as it fails to consider the diversity of cultural contexts when treating mental health issues. He concludes that it is important to recognize that mental health issues are often affected by cultural and social factors, and that a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment may not be the best solution. Therefore, Watters main thesis in the Introduction of Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche is that the American approach to mental health has been exported to other countries, creating a homogenization of mental health illnesses across the globe. (Watters, 2010)

Ethan Watters’ main thesis in the Introduction of Crazy Like Us is that American culture has had a profound influence on global mental health due to the export of American psychiatry, ideas, and pharmaceuticals. Watters argues that Americanization of mental health treatment has not only failed to help reduce the mental health suffering of global citizens, but has actually resulted in creating new and more intractable forms of mental illness in other countries. In many parts of the world, Watters contends, American-style mental health treatments have replaced longstanding cultural narratives and stigmatize certain behaviors that are seen as contrary to the pathologized standards set by the American mental health establishment. My overall reaction to Watters’ main thesis is one of surprise and caution. While I can understand the initial appeal of applying American-style mental health treatments in other countries, I was surprised to learn how much of the global mental health suffering is a direct result of it. I feel now that there should have been more effort put into understanding and respecting local cultural beliefs and prior traditions when attempting to provide assistance for mental health crises, rather than simply imposing a somewhat arbitrary American-style approach. One quote from the chapter that particularly stood out to me was: “Mental illness is a very tangible example of the power of cultural beliefs and stories to shape the very experience of being human” (Watter 4). This statement emphasizes that mental illness is an issue of culture and identity, rather than an exclusively medically-defined condition. Another quote that struck me was “It strains credulity to think that nine hundred million people on the planet could suffer from the same disease” (Watter 5). This speaks to the complexity and dynamic nature mental illness, and how one-size-fit-all solutions may not be the most effective approach to tackling mental health issues around the world.

Work Cited

H Andrade.”A review of rubric use in higher education.”https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02602930902862859

“Crazy like us: The globalization of the American psyche.”https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6kt5TB8Lb30C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=1.+Watters+main+thesis+in+the+Introduction+of+Crazy+Like+Us:+The+Globalization+of+the+American+Psyche:&ots=hT5O9L7FCm&sig=pwN8QuzpfW3TmStpKuY1dTk7tYQ

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