Document Type
Article
Publication Date
September 2006
Journal or Book Title
Psychological Science
Volume
17
Issue
9
Abstract
Do people believe mental disorders are real and possess underlying essences? The current study found that both novices and practicing clinicians held weaker essentialist beliefs about mental disorders than about medical disorders. They were also unwilling to endorse the idea that mental disorders are real and natural. Furthermore, compared with novices, mental health clinicians were less likely to endorse the view that there is a shared cause underlying a mental disorder and that one needs to remove the cause to get rid of the mental disorder. Clinicians were polarized on their views about whether mental disorders are categorical or dimensional. These findings reflect current controversies about mental disorders in the field at large.
Recommended Citation
Ahn, W. K., Flanagan, E. H., Marsh, J. K., & Sanislow, C. A. (2006). Beliefs about essences and the reality of mental disorders. Psychological Science, 17(9), 759-766.
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Behavioral Disciplines and Activities Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Clinical Epidemiology Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons