Events in Global Psychology (Cultural/Multicultural Psychology)

Events in Global Psychology (Cultural/Multicultural Psychology)

Gender Identity

In contemporary society, gender identity definition has changed based on the biological identifiers to the delineation that includes a personal conception of oneself as male, female, both or neither. As such, there has been an increased need for teenagers to have gender conversion. For instance, Orange (2020) reported that in Sweden, teenage gender dysphoria diagnosis has soared by 1500% from 2008 to 2018 for girls between 13 and 17 years. In Sweden, the LBGT cluster recommended new law in 2018 to help lower the age to get gender reassignment from eighteen to fifteen and also eradicate the need for parental consent and allow children over twelve to have their legal gender changed. While the proposal was rescinded, the article pointed out that there may be other issues impacting children’s decision making, including conditions such as ADHD and autism, as well as high degrees of depression and anxiety. Orange gave an example of a woman Jennifer Ring who committed suicide four years after her gender reassignment, meaning that her gender dysphoria could have been nothing but a clear sign of psychosis and schizotypal symptoms.

Orange’s article is pertinent to global psychology because it touches on various subjects such as gender dysphoria and reassignment.  I agree with the article’s stance that not all individuals should be given gender reassignment. According to Janssen, Busa, and Wernick (2019), there is evidence of overlooked assessment and treatment for children with gender dysphoria, yet research affirms that treatment could lead to augmented psychological functioning. As such, Orange’s article is accurate in identifying gender dysphoria as a problem if other underlying conditions are not evaluated. Not only does orange use examples of cases that failed due to gender reassignment, but the author also uses ethos to establish validity and the need for therapy.

Sexual Orientation

There is a consensus that the LGBT community has gained higher acceptance in societies and that civil rights have reduced their hardships. Ryan (2020) noted in an article indicated that there are significant mental stressors on gay men that the general heterosexual community people do not face. People who identify as gay and lesbian have augmented chances for suicide, and the gap widens for transgender individuals. Perhaps the most compelling argument of this article is that Ryan determines that the LGBT community is more likely to be at risk of depression and anxiety, which increased risk to using controlled substances and, ultimately, the risk of HIV. Not only is there a varied unease about the gay culture. Ryan affirms that even among gay and bisexual men, other disparities such as race, status, the income level of masculinity, but attractiveness can also lead to high mental situations. Thus, treating and changing these behaviors needs to focus on stressors from within that lead to this diversity. Rejections among gay and bisexual men due to these groupings are additional stressors that may lead to risky behaviors. For example, body-conscious gay men often go to excellent means to attract high-income men.

Ryan’s article adds value to global psychology because it deliberates on the notions of mental health issues that gay and bisexual men face due to their sexual orientation compared to other heterosexuals. I agree with the mental health discussion deliberated as mental health is an essential factor for gay and bisexual men. Numerous studies have focussed on the stressors that increased mental health between the heterosexual communities with gay/bisexual men but not the stressors among gay/bisexual men subcultures (Pachankis et al., 2020). The article was imperative because it relayed information on global psychology and noted that deliberations among the community need to happen to mitigate these stressors.

 Cultural and Religious Background

In the United States (US), availability, accessibility, and utilization of services are divergent amongst diverse cultural groupings.  An article by the American Psychological Organisation (2020) affirmed that African Americans are likely to get mental and behavioral disorders, 40% of the youth institutionalized are African American population while children exposed to violence are25%. Another identifier for mental illness is that unlike the Hispanic and White people, African Americans get schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions. Indeed poverty and social structures in the US are considerable barriers to attaining psychological amenities, and one factor that may be evidence of this factor is that very few psychologists are African American. However, there is a need for capable professionals in this area who can be culturally competent to understand African Americans’ belief systems and device an approach to care in a way that would increase effective outcomes. According to Bilkins, Allen, Davey, and Davey (2016), the Black church has played an imperative role in mental health for Black communities and more so due to the perceptions of discrimination. People in Black communities’ attend the church more to mitigate the impacts of psychological issues and conditions, and hence the church is the first step to wellness.

The significance of APA’s is that it deliberates on mental health among the Black community as a result of discrimination. The report by the APA is accurate in identifying structural racism as a critical deterrent for African American people seeking mental services. However, the article does mention that competent professionals in this field would be essential as they would implement both mental health services and also add religion in mental health wellness to augment the quality of life.