In your future role in the field ofpsychology, you might consider how a client's cultural, gender, anddevelopmental background influences his or her diagnosis. Awarenessof a client's background may assist in your understanding of howthe client’s symptoms, signs, and behaviors are experienced andexpressed. As the DSM states, disorders are defined relative toculture, social, and familial norms and values. In addition, thecauses and expression of many disorders are influenced by sex andgender differences.
Understanding this perspective maylead psychologists to develop an accurate diagnosis for a clientwith a similar background or inaccurately diagnosis a client with adissimilar background. Although an understanding of the client’sbackground may assist with the development of an accuratediagnosis, psychologists must be careful that personal biases aboutthat background do not shape diagnosis.
For this Discussion, review the casestudy of \"Marvin\" Learning Resources. Objectively, consider theclient's cultural identity and how this might contribute todiagnosis. If you were working with Marvin, how might your personalbiases play a role in his diagnosis? Consider ways you mightmitigate, or reduce, the appearance of personal biases indiagnosis.
Consider the following case: Marvin, a45 year-old African American male, has come to your office becauseof feelings of anger about his recent firing as a mid-levelcorporate executive. He held this position for fifteen years, butwas ostensibly let go as part of a larger organizationalrestructuring. Marvin shared with you, however, that he isskeptical of this explanation because he has had several incidentswhere co-workers were overheard making various racially-chargedepithets toward various employees. He noted that the “biggestracist of them all†became his direct supervisor two years ago, andshortly after he received the first of two disciplinary reports. Ashe mentioned, he had never experienced problems with work prior tothese reports; as a result, these reports were “bogus complaintsâ€and upset him. Marvin is quite animated and communicates his angerabout what has happened very clearly to you. He notes that this isnot the kind of thing that would bring him to a therapist’s office– “I’m not crazy!†Rather, he came in to placate his wife. Shecomplains that Marvin is not only angry and unkind toward her andthe children, but that he sits around all day and has no interestin much of anything except videogames. Marvin’s wife, who attendedthe first part of this session, noted that they have not had sex inthree months, he has stopped going to the gym (something he diddaily), and he seems “very pessimistic†about this poor mark on hisrecord. She noted that while Marvin has always had some of thesetendencies, they gotten significantly worse since he was let gofrom his job.
With these thoughts inmind:
1. Post anexplanation of how the client's culture, gender, developmental, orlifespan background may contribute toward personal biases anddiagnosis.
2. Then explain how your personalbiases might influence the client's diagnosis.
3. Finally, explain three ways you, asa future professional in the field, might mitigate or reduce theappearance of biases in diagnosis.
