Discuss the findings of cross-cultural research on the anxiety disorders. Provide at least two examples of disorders that
illustrate the role of culture.
What will be an ideal response?
As with most disorders, cultural influences are seen in the anxiety disorders. While most emotional responses are
universal, the stimuli that elicit emotional reactions will vary and how emotions are expressed varies. In the case
of anxiety disorders, the prevalence of the different types of disorders varies with culture. Differences in sources
of anxiety are easily found. Nigerians, for example, are likely to be concerned about fertility and maintaining a
large family. In some Asian cultures Koro may be seen, a fear of the penis shrinking and disappearing. Both of
these sources of anxiety are clearly related to the value the culture places on procreating, a concern not seen in
most Western societies. Social phobia takes different forms across cultures, being characterized by a fear of
embarrassing one's self in some and a fear of embarrassing others in some. Thus, the anxiety disorders are very
much impacted by culture in numerous ways.
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A case study would be the most appropriate method to investigate which of these topics?
a. the ways in which the games of boys differ from the games of girls b. the development of a male baby raised as a female after a surgical error destroyed his penis c. the math skills of students in Japan as compared to those of U.S. students d. physiological changes that occur when people watch violent movies e. the relationship between childhood nutrition and physical development
According to Henry Murray, people have a variety of internal _________ that necessitate taking action in the social environment
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word