Sociology 120: Sociology of Mental Health Susan Bodnar-Deren Summer 2011

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1 Sociology 120: Sociology of Mental Health Susan Bodnar-Deren Summer 2011 Course Description: This course will study various social aspects of mental health and illness. The first part of the course examines the concept of mental illness and compares sociological with psychological and biological approaches to this subject. The second part discusses the major ways sociologists have studied mental health and illness and considers how selected social factors, including social class, gender, ethnicity, and marital status influence the definition of, causes of, and responses to mental symptoms. The third part concerns various aspects of mental health systems and policies. PowerPoint slides for each class will be available on Moodle, although you are also responsible for material presented in class that is not on the slides. Course Requirements: All Students Each class period will consist of a combination of the following: a (hopefully) short lecture about the assigned readings and topic, discussion, and miscellaneous activities (films, in-class projects). There will be two hourly exams. Each is worth thirty percent of your grade. Each student will also be responsible for the facilitation of one of the course readings, also worth twenty percent (see below). The final twenty percent of the grade will be a 7-10 page paper that should apply one or more of the ideas from this course to first-hand experiences with mental illness (rubric at end of syllabus). This paper will be due the final week of class. Grading: Exam I 30 % Exam II 30 % Reading Facilitation 20% Final Paper 20% Reading Facilitation (20%): Each student will have the chance to present some of the days readings and applicable outside information on the topic at hand. A sign-up will be distributed during our second class, and you will be asked to sign-up for a facilitation week. Each person will be responsible to prepare a presentation on the reading that is highlighted for their scheduled day. They will also need to provide some outside information applicable to the reading and/or day s topic. Finally, you will be responsible to come up with one discussion question on the reading that you would like to put out to your fellow classmates to facilitate discussion and a summary in writing of your discussion points. A rubric for presentations follows at the end of the syllabus. Examination I and II: (30% each): Multiple choice, true false, and two short essay questions on the lecture, topics and readings thus far in the course (non-cumulative). 1

2 Required Reading Three required readings are available at the University book store: Teresa Scheid and Tony Brown, A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health: Social Contexts, Theories, and Systems, second edition, Kay Jamison s An Unquiet Mind Susan Sheehan's Is There No Place on Earth for Me? Reading Schedule - It is expected that you will complete all readings prior to class. So you can be ready to engage in meaningful discussion. Date Topic Reading/Assignments Tuesday, May 24 Welcome. Overview of the course. Changing conceptions of mental health and illness Wednesday, May 25 The expansion of mental health Horwitz in Scheid and Brown. Pp and illness over time; The rise of Overview of sociological perspectives on the therapeutic state; Current conceptions of mental illness. the definitions, causes, and responses to mental health and illness Thursday, May 26 Defining Mental Disorder Selected examples of mental disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and childhood disorders Measuring Mental Disorder Part 1 Jamison, An Unquiet Mind Part 2, Jamison, An Unquiet Mind The need for community studies: Basic concepts and findings of epidemiological research: Problems in measuring mental illness in communitise Wakefield and Schmitz Measurement of Mental Disorder pp Kessler The Prevalence of Mental Illness pp Take this screening test for depression at the following website: D/ 2

3 Tuesday, May 31 Theories of Mental Health and Illness Psychodynamic Theories Peterson Psychological Approaches to Mental Illness pp The impact of psychoanalysis on American Culture; The demise of phsychoanalysis Wed, June 1 Thurs, June 2 Biological Theories The rise and dominance of biological psychiatry in the late 20 th century. Adoption and twin studies. Limitations of biological views. Theories (cont.) Social Theories Mental health as the consequence of stressful social arrangements; the stress paradigm stressors, coping resources, distress Exam One Schwartz and Corcoran Biological Approaches to Mental Disorder pp Thoits Sociological Approaches to mental illness pp Wheaton and Montazer The Nature of Stressors pp Turner and Brown Social Support and Mental Health pp Tues, June 7 Wed, June 8 Social Correlates of Mental Disorders: Social Class How are social resources related to the development of mental health and illness? Social Correlates of Mental Disorders (cont): Culture Ethnicity Gender The relationship Eaton, Muntaner & Sapag Socioeconomic Stratification and Mental Health Lennon and Limonic Work and Unemployment as Stressors Williams, Costa, and Leavell Race and Mental Health Walton et al Cultural Diversity and Mental Health Treatment Rosenfield and Smith Gender and Mental Health

4 Thurs, June 9 Marital Status and Life Course: How social relationships affect mental health Williams, Frech and Carlson Marital Status and Mental Health Menaghan Stress and Distress in Childhood and Adolescence Tues, June 14 Mental Health Systems: The Mental Hospital Traditional mental intuitions and their impact on mental illness Mirowsky and Ross Well Being Across the Life Course Sheehan Is There No Place On Earth For Me? Paper Due Wed, June 15 Current Mental Health Systems: The decline of mental hospitalization and emergence of deinstitutionalization. Community Treatment Porgrams Picket et al. Psychiatric Rehabilitaion Services and Outcomes Thurs, June 16 Mental Health and Criminal Justice Exam Two McClean The Mental Health Consumers/Survivor Movement Hiday and Burns Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System Rubric for Final Paper: 4

5 Content, Development, and Organization 65 points Depth of Scholarship: the student s efforts to cover the key elements of the topic thoroughly. Content should go beyond a basic description or paraphrasing. Originality of ideas & research: All assignments must demonstrate a unique, creative approach to the topic being studied and represent the original work of the student. Use of literature: Assignments should be grounded in academic research. References utilized should represent the best available for the topic. Conceptual Framework: Assignments should display the learner s understanding of the theories and concepts relevant to the topic. Competing concepts and theories should be taken into account in the text of the paper. Readability & Style Clarity 15Logic of presentation Format Adherence to APA format 10Overall paper format Mechanical Grammar 10Spelling & punctuation 5

6 Presentation Rubric (To be used for all presentations) Quality of content of Make sure the important ideas from the presentation your topic are presented in clear and concise manner. State your main thesis clearly at the beginning. Is presentation grounded in the 30 points academic research. Are refs used? Originality of ideas & research: All assignments must demonstrate a unique, creative approach to the topic being studied and represent the original work of the student. Detail of presentation Was the topic covered in depth? Were detailed examples and 25 pointsdiscussion of the essential points of interest covered? Clarity of presentation 15 Speak slowly and with a measured style so that everyone can understand your sentences. Make eye contact with your audience. Do not simply stand up and read your presentation. Interest in presentation Did you capture your audiences interest? Was the topic presented 15with enthusiasm? Did the presentation elicit questions and comments from your audience? Overall presentation format 15 The presentation should make appropriate use of presentation media. I.e.: if using ppt, you are responsible for having your presentation on a USB drive (or make appropriate arrangements with me prior to your presentation) and dealing with difficulties that may arise (have a plan B) 6