Here is a detailed description of the document containing two essays on diversity topics in psychology:
This document includes two complete essays responding to prompts about diversity issues in psychology.
Essay A discusses the social construction of identity in relation to mental disabilit...
ESSAY A.
Psychology is increasingly interested in the ways in which personal and group identities are socially constructed.
Discuss in relation to mental disability and body image:
The study of the complex interactions between people and their social environments is at the
heart of psychology. A growing topic of research in psychology is the social production of
identity. This idea relates to the idea that the social and cultural norms surrounding us impact
our identities. In mental illness and body image, the social construction of identity has been
fundamental. This essay examines the relationship and societal construction of mental illness
and body image. Our understanding of mental disability and body image is profoundly
influenced by relevant social and psychological theories, societal norms, and expectations,
which substantially impact the general well-being of people with mental impairments.
"mental disability" refers to a broad category of mental health issues, including
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression. The conditions can
significantly negatively influence a person's quality of life. Diverse cultures and communities
exhibit significant differences in how disability is perceived and treated. The variety
highlights how cultural and historical factors have shaped society's construction of mental
illness.
The idea of stigma has been used as a theoretical framework to understand how mental
disability is socially constructed. Individuals' negative attitudes and convictions towards
persons different from them are called stigma. Unfavourable views can lead to discriminatory
behaviour and social exclusion, which substantially negatively impacts how people with
mental disabilities perceive themselves and how valuable they are (Link & Phelan, 2001).
, According to Corrigan's (2004) research, the stigma associated with mental illness can have
detrimental repercussions like low self-esteem and a negative self-concept. When it comes to
how people view their physical appearance, this phenomenon may lead to negative body
image perception. Poor body image may cause serious harm to people with mental
impairments because it may perpetuate poor self-concepts and heighten feelings of exclusion
and loneliness.
A theoretical concept called ableism helps us understand how society constructs cognitive
deficits. The preconception is related to ableism. People with disabilities are generally
thought to be of lower status or to lack something, according to the prevailing social belief
that non-disability is the standard. People with cognitive impairments may be maltreated and
excluded due to the presumption (Campbell, 2009).
The idea of body image has to do with how people evaluate and subjectively appraise their
physical appearance. Many elements, including media, society, and social conventions, can
affect how something is perceived. The concept of body image as a social construct is the
idea that prevailing cultural standards and values affect our view of what constitutes a healthy
physique.
Understanding how society constructs body image has been done using the social comparison
theory. According to Festinger's Social Comparison Theory from 1954, people evaluate
themselves by comparing themselves to others in their social environment. Due to the
possibility of comparisons with their peers without problems, people with mental disabilities
may find this occurrence particularly important.
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