Premium Essay

Depression: a Sociological and Psychological Perspective

In:

Submitted By retrobution101
Words 4908
Pages 20
The expression “I feel depressed” is used normally as a throwaway comment when we are feeling sad or miserable. Normally these feeling will pass us by, and we then continue with our everyday life without another thought. But what if these feeling didn’t disappear over time? What happens when these start to interfere with our everyday life? What if the enviorment around us is the major cause of depression? It’s not really hard to believe when you think about it as we are faced with mass unemployment, and a recession which can put heavy strain on even the most balanced of individuals and their interpersonal relationships around them. There are many interpersonal instances that can have the ability to lead to the onset of depression, such as the family environment, the socialization setting, and the discrimination against gender in certain cultures and instances.
Depression has many brothers and sisters in the medical world, ranging from disorders such as Dysthymia, postnatal depression and in some extreme cases of depression such as Bio polar, and major depression (Unipolar). But no matter what the diagnosis is or how serious the depression is, depression is not trivial and is a real health condition contrary to what some people believe. It is not something that you can just snap out of and more importantly it is not a sign of weakness. For many people depression can affect them in different ways to other people with the same condition but normally the symptoms are similar. These can range from lack of sleep or too much sleep, weight loss or gain, unpredictable mood swings, thoughts of self-harm or suicidal tendencies, low self-worth, and no interest or motivation. These are just a few of the psychological symptoms but the major question in which this essay will try to answer is what is the major cause of depression is. Is it psychological or sociological? This

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Social Constructionism Theory

...Depression is one of the major mental illnesses affected the majority of people in Australia. It was demonstrated that one in seven Australians will suffer from depression throughout their lifetime (Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS], as cited in Black Dog Institute, n.d.). In this report, I choose Social Constructionism theory to analysis whether the public perspective stigmatized depression and obstruct depressed people to seek treatment. Firstly, the rationale of choosing depression as a health issue will be indicated. It was followed by illustrating the social, cultural and environmental determinants of depression. Social Constructionism theory and the concept of stigma are linked together to claim the causes of misconception of depression...

Words: 1508 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Fnfjfjkf

... Answer: D Type: D 3. Sociology A. is the scientific study of social behavior and human groups. B. focuses primarily on how social relationships influence people’s behavior. C. focuses on how societies develop and change. D. all of these Answer: D Type: D 4. The awareness that allows people to comprehend the link between their immediate, personal social settings and the remote, impersonal social world is called A. the sociological imagination. B. anthropology. C. a theory. D. verstehen. Answer: A Type: D 5. ____________ is most closely associated with the concept of the sociological imagination. A. Émile Durkheim B. Max Weber C. Karl Marx D. C. Wright Mills Answer: D Type: S 6. A key element in the sociological imagination is the ability to view one’s own society A. from the perspective of personal experience. B. from the perspective of cultural biases. C. as an outsider. D. as an insider. Answer: C Type: I 7. A sociologist observing behavior at a college football game would probably focus on A. what books the coach of the team has read during the past year. B. a “fan” who has fallen asleep during...

Words: 4557 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Social Sciences

...Society for the Study of Social Problems Social Stratification and Health: Education's Benefit beyond Economic Status and Social Origins Author(s): John R. Reynolds and Catherine E. Ross Source: Social Problems, Vol. 45, No. 2 (May, 1998), pp. 221-247 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Society for the Study of Social Problems Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3097245 Accessed: 27/02/2009 14:10 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=ucal. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For...

Words: 14230 - Pages: 57

Premium Essay

Advertising Photoshopped Women

...enhancement used in media advertising, namely Photoshop. (Purtle, 2012) ("Mirror, mirror", n.d.) Studies have shown that American children receive an estimated 5,260 messages of attractiveness through the media, by adolescence. The United States also has the world’s highest rates of obesity and eating disorders. This statistic crosses a melting pot of backgrounds and cultures which eliminates any genetic reason; instead societal messages from the media should be addressed. (Ross, n.d.) Advertising Photoshopped Women Social problem Eating disorders in the United States has been a social problem for many years, with up to 24 million people of all ages and genders affected. 50 percent of these people also fit the criteria for depression and only 35 percent of these receive treatment. Considered a norm violation type of social problem, many eating disorders are directly and indirectly caused by the media advertising digitally altered body images in their campaigns. ("Eating disorders statistics", n.d.) Thus, the problem can now be considered a system-blame problem, which, blaming the system is only part of the truth behind eating disorders, and proves to absolve the person of responsibility for the disorder. (Long, 2012) Manipulation of images used in advertising through the use of Photoshop or some other digital tool can contribute to unrealistic body image expectations, eating disorders, and other emotional problems. (Diller, n.d.)...

Words: 1019 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Why Women Kill

...are very young and unwed. About 90% of neonaticide mothers are aged 25 or the pregnancy. (2-Neonaticide) Based on the Psychological Theory, crimes can result from a wide array of reasons most of which are: inappropriate learning or improper conditioning, a diseased mind, inappropriate, abnormal or dysfunctional mental processes within the personality, inappropriately conditioned behaviors. It is the personality that is the key motivational element in most people since it is the most common basis of drives and motives. (Schmallenger 89) With regard to the above captioned paragraph, it is thought the major reason for neonaticide mothers to commit this type of crime is because they are in denial of pregnancy. This type of denial is psychological and can be derived in a young woman with previous mental illness or no prior mental instability at all. The point is that a young woman in this particular “state of mind” is overwhelmed by fear of and shame of an unplanned pregnancy. It is their emotional immaturity and lack of resources that keeps these young women from understanding and coping with the repercussions of their pregnancies which is why most of them have the inability to show any remorse for killing their child. Furthermore, most of the young women cannot even recall being pregnant or even giving birth at all. (Meyer 53-54) Another psychological theory is based on the psychotic offender. Psychosis is a mental disorder. Psychotic people have been found to be out of...

Words: 2127 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Study Habits

...What Is Mental Health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: * Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry * Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse * Family history of mental health problems Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Mental health is a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder;[1] it is the "psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment".[2] From the perspective of positive psychology or holism, mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.[1] According to World Health Organization (WHO) mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others."[3] WHO...

Words: 1759 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Factors of Program Shifting of College Students

...Why do people convert religion? Proponents: Baliguat Caryl Buga-ay Myna Delgado Harlyn Laja Aurelio Lumacad Rhona Marmolejo Gilbert Magbanua Christine Nepal Flory Mae Santianes Djamaica Vicada Jecel Mae Yelo Margie Thesis/ research Entry Binalbagan Catholic College Negros Occidental September, 2014 Mr. Lazaga Adviser Acknowledgement A journey is easier when you travel together. Interdependence is certainly more valuable than independence. This thesis is the result of a too little time of work whereby the researchers have accompanied and supported by limited people. It is a pleasant aspect that the proponents have now the opportunity to express their gratitude. The first person they would like to thank is their excellent teacher/ adviser Mr. Lazaga who always remind them with their research and answer whatever questions that we do not know or things that we do include in our study. Who always kept an eye on the progress of their work and always available when needed his advices. In a short period of time, they owe his lots of gratitude for having them shown this way of research. The researchers also want to express their gratitude to all their respondents who answer honestly their survey and accommodate them with open heart just to help the researchers. Although, they do have limited respondents, they are very thankful to them. These people substantially contributed to the development of this work. Introduction Religion is said to an organized...

Words: 2458 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

High School Student Suicide Research

...A Sociological Investigation of the Current Trends of High School Students Suicides The increasing suicide toll of high school students has become quite an alarming social situation that demands our serious attention. Over the past eight years the rate has steadfastly risen from 9.6 to 11.1 deaths per 100,000 young adults falling within 15-24 age-group, the most recent statistics revealed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013.The New York Times, dated 27th July, 2015 posted a report under the title “Campus Suicide and the Pressure of Perfection” that highlights the overambitious expectations out of high school students and consequent mental health complexities in the event of failure to notch up outstanding academic qualifications...

Words: 798 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Biopsychosocial

...assignment in order to gain an understanding of the relation of their individual influences to the outcome of my chosen patient’s current health status, a cerebrovascular accident (stroke). Rana and Upton (2009) were the first to research these three factors individually, relating them to poor health and well-being. Roberts’ (2000) definition above describes the certain issues explored within biology today; however, psychological and sociological issues can influence the biological status of the human body. Despite sociology influencing ones behaviour, it is also based around the effect it has upon groups and external events. Sociology does not only target the individual involved, but the way the individual relates and interacts with their social surroundings. Sociologists explore interactions within relationships, social class, gender, race and family life. Through an experience of nursing a patient during a six week clinical work placement who had suffered a cerebrovascular accident, this assignment will aim to critically evaluate the bio-psychosocial perspectives and the...

Words: 7398 - Pages: 30

Premium Essay

The Affects of Abuse and Neglect Later in Life

...The Affects of Abuse and Neglect Later in Life Word Count: 2,036 Literature Review The purpose of this study is to determine if child abuse and neglect affect social status, grade point averages (GPA), or psychological imbalances of individuals later in life. This study is important to address to the public of the long-term affects of abuse and neglect in relation to such topics. The subjects surveyed are college-aged students ranging from ages 18 to 25. This survey is based on abuse or neglect from the subject’s parents or guardians at any point from birth to age 16 or 18. The cut off age group is dependant upon how old the subject was once they moved out of the household. This study defines abuse as any form of intense ongoing verbal battery, unnecessary physical harm, or illegal sexual encounters directed to the subject via the parent or guardian. “The official federal definition of child abuse, state in the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974, states, ‘…the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances which would indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby’” (Gelles 1985). This study defines neglect as any form of lack of physical, cognitive, or affective care and support for the subject via parent or guardian. Physical care and support is based on the behavioral...

Words: 2329 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Health and Social Care

...methodological advances and empirical studies. Within sociology, but also partly in demography, economics and social policy studies, a cohort and life course perspective, event history analysis and microanalytic longitudinal data have become almost predominant (Mayer 1990, 2000; Riley et al. 1994). Baltes et al. (1999: 473) note, for instance, that life span psychology became more prominent due to, among other reasons, “... a concern with life span development in neighboring social science disciplines, especially sociology. Life course sociology took hold as a powerful intellectual force.” At the beginning of this development there were great expectations that the disciplines involved in this “life course turn” - especially life course sociology and life span psychology - would not only grow together in a parallel trajectory, but that there would be co-evolution in the direction of a truly interdisciplinary or even transdisciplinary paradigm on human development. Volumes such as the one edited by Kohli (1978), Sørensen, Weinert and Sherrod (1986) or the series on “Life-Span Development and Behavior” edited by Baltes, Featherman and Lerner(1979-1990) bear ample witness to this view. This expectation was also not in any way ill-founded. On the one hand, there were earlier developmentalist traditions where psychological and...

Words: 9579 - Pages: 39

Premium Essay

Sick Role In Health And Social Care

...Sociologists have naturally viewed sickness as being a form of deviant behaviour. Talcott Parsons was the one who initially introduced this view and formulated the sick role (behavioural characteristics a sick person adopts according to the normative demands of that situation) (Cockerham, 2003:142). The basis for illness being defined as deviance comes from sociological definition of deviance being any act or behaviour violating the social norms within any given social system deviant behaviour consists of making social judgements about what is regarded as right according to the social norms (Cockerham, 2003:142). Symbolic interactionist also influences focuses on individuals and their relationships with one another. They point out that people learn meanings from one another and that they organise their lives according to those meanings (ferrante,...

Words: 1110 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hlsc120

...Teaching staff: Please check your campus unit outline Unit Outline: Learning outcomes Assessment Content  Group introduction and activity Assessment tasks Assessment Task Word length  Weight (or equiv) Teamwork: Student Seminar 20‐25 mins 20% Written Exam 2,000  words 40% Reflective Writing Assignment 1,750 words 40% 1 2/17/2016 Topics for Today • A sociological approach and the sociological imagination • Biomedical model • Globalisation and health After this session you will be able to.....  Explain basic features of a sociological approach to health and  illness  Describe the key characteristics of the biomedical model  Define some of the key concepts that inform a sociological  approach to health and illness  Consider the value of a sociological approach to health and  illness for health workers. Let’s start with some questions … o Why do people stop taking antibiotics before they have  finished the packet? o Why do people smoke even when they know its unhealthy? o Why are women more likely to be diagnosed with depression  than men? o Why are poor people sicker than rich people? o Why do people seek complementary and alternative remedies  rather than going to the doctor? o Why do migrants to Australia have more accidents at work? o Why is there a 15‐20 year life expectancy gap between  Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians? 2 2/17/2016 What is sociology? “The study of society” Links between individual lives & social forces ...

Words: 1833 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

African American Families: Single Parent Families Today

...Most American would agree that part of their concerns for the nation is poverty, crime and declining education will become a growing problem which are affecting American; because of the rise in single parent families. The world is changing with divorce rates on the rise, death of a spouse, gays and lesbian couples taking on roles as mother and fathers. For this reason, violence is on the rise because of the outcome of no strong family values. Depression in women has resulted from the lack of financial support and emotional problems by not having fathers around. To put it another way, “depression symptoms were associated with mother’s not having a relationship with the father’s and the father not having contact with their children (Jackson 2005).” in other words, it’s time for change to this new way of living because, the children’s in these single-family homes are the ones that have been affected the most in these situations. Although traditions are fading, two parent homes experience some of the same issues as single-parent families but dealing with these issues along can be extremely difficult. Approximately 1 out of 3 marriages dissolution are great contributors to the overall numbers of...

Words: 1623 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Hlsc 120

...structural variables like the globalization, dissent of human rights and benefits and a lot of people more prompt the expanded rate of movement of mortality because of contaminations in the poor nations. Such nations need water offices, legitimate convenience, sanitation, sustenance, wellbeing administrations and what not. Absence of assets and method for correspondence and their detachment from the urban territories all help the commonness of irresistible ailments. Then again, in the rich nations, regardless of the fact that the patients pay a lumsum add up to get treated, there is a high risk that the infection may backslide as a result of the absence of a healthy lifestyle and timetable. Cultural factors- Issues like thoughts and perspectives on the human rights, work guidelines and other social and social issues that lie past the national or worldwide limits, help the pervasiveness of...

Words: 2787 - Pages: 12