Reference no: EM133612839

Homework: How a Culture of Rebellion Shaped Mental Health Treatment

Getting Started

When we look back at the last 100 years of history, many professional historians point to the decade of the 1960s as a pivotal time in modern American history. It was a unique period where a tectonic shift occurred in the common values that seemed to unite Americans. The 1960s were characterized by social and political upheaval that at times threatened to split the nation apart. Civil rights, drugs, sex, anti-war sentiment, and resistance to authority were just a few of the themes that dominated the mindset of young people in the decade of the 1960s.

If you had been a college student in the 1950s, it would have been hard to see the rebellion of the 1960s coming. In retrospect, the rumblings of this rebellion were growing like foreshocks before a major seismic event. To understand the cultural revolution of the 1960s, we must study the context starting in the 1950s.

You may have noticed in previous workshops that behaviorism, humanism, and now cognitive psychology were all gathering momentum around this time period. It is no coincidence that psychological theories were flourishing at the same time social norms of civility and compliance were being challenged. Psychology was influencing the shift in cultural values toward more personal freedom and autonomy, while the social, political, and economic events were shaping how mental health services were viewed and applied in the larger population. It is the era where mental health services really started to become a part of the larger cultural landscape.

In this homework, you have the opportunity to take a close look at the fascinating interplay between the cultural events of the time and the psychological mindset that was forming within the general population. You'll also try to discern what affect all this cultural change had on organized religion and faith at that time. And finally, you'll explore how the war and the emerging emphasis on mental health shaped how mental health care was to be delivered to those coming back from war.

Upon successful completion of this homework, you will be able to:

1. Analyze how cultural trends from the 1950s through the 1960s have impacted social norms and the delivery of mental health services.

Background Information

Before attempting to complete this homework, view the four videos listed in the resources section in the order they appear. They form a historical context that is important to understand and it will make the most sense if they are viewed sequentially. You should then read the article titled "The Impact of War on Mental Health: Lest We Forget," which shows how war has had a deep impact not only on soldiers but on how mental health was perceived, even into our modern era.

This homework goes into depth about the social forces in the mid-twentieth century that had a major impact on shaping how we approach and treat mental health. So, it may be necessary for you to do additional research outside of the resources provided to complete this homework.

Instructions

A. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

B. View the following videos in the order presented:

1. "In the 1950s There Were Lots of Rules" (7:50 min) (Closed captioning is provided.)

2. "The 1960s Was a Reaction to the 1950s" (5:46 min) (Closed captioning is provided.)

3. "PTSD in Iraq" (4:54 min) (Closed captioning and a transcript is available.)

C. Read the article "The Impact of War on Mental Health: Lest We Forget."

D. Write a four- to five-page paper that addresses the following:

1. Identify what you consider to be the primary factors that caused a shift in the social norms of the 1950s (compliance and civility) to the radical changes in norms of the 1960s (unrest, rebellion, and resistance to authority). Be detailed in your response.

2. Discuss what you consider to be the one most positive outcome of the emerging 1960s social norms and the one most negative or consequential outcome of the changing social norms. Be specific and explain the cause and effect of each in detail.

3. Organized religion in the 1950s was characterized by the same values of compliance and civility. How do you think the 1960s norms of unrest, rebellion, and resistance to authority affected religious beliefs at the time?

4. In the article titled "The Impact of War on Mental Health: Lest We Forget," what do you see as the cause and effect between war, the emerging awareness of PTSD, its influence on the larger culture, and how it shaped the way mental health services were delivered in subsequent years?

5. What are your impressions of the progress we've made, or lack thereof, regarding how we currently treat PTSD? Start with insights you have from the "PTSD in Iraq" video.