Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit

The phenomenon of acculturation stress is described with particular reference to the subsequent development of the transitional role conflict. The adolescent and young adult male Eskimo is especially susceptible to the anxiety generated by the process of acculturation and it is the interaction of th...

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Published in:The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
Main Author: Seltzer, Allan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 1980
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/070674378002500213
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674378002500213
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spelling crsagepubl:10.1177/070674378002500213 2023-05-15T16:07:41+02:00 Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit Seltzer, Allan 1980 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/070674378002500213 http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674378002500213 en eng SAGE Publications http://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry volume 25, issue 2, page 173-181 ISSN 0706-7437 1497-0015 Psychiatry and Mental health journal-article 1980 crsagepubl https://doi.org/10.1177/070674378002500213 2022-04-14T04:33:28Z The phenomenon of acculturation stress is described with particular reference to the subsequent development of the transitional role conflict. The adolescent and young adult male Eskimo is especially susceptible to the anxiety generated by the process of acculturation and it is the interaction of this external stress with the bio-psycho-social characteristics of the individual within his ecological group, that may lead to an increased incidence of mental disorder. The clinical picture that develops will depend on the complex interaction of this psychosocial stressor and the level of ego development and its accompanying defence and coping strategies. We see how the development of manifest psychopathology in two young Inuit males was intimately associated with the stresses of acculturation acting upon personalities characterized by a low self-esteem and negative self-image, feelings of emasculation and a state of anomie. Coping and defensive strategies exhibited both similarities (drugs, alcohol, withdrawal, acting out) and differences (psychosis versus dissociation). The value of modified supportive therapy with continuity of care aimed at increasing self-esteem through sublimation, identification, reduction of dependency and encouragement of growth and autonomy is described, as are measures aimed at primary prevention. Article in Journal/Newspaper eskimo* inuit SAGE Publications (via Crossref) The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 25 2 173 181
institution Open Polar
collection SAGE Publications (via Crossref)
op_collection_id crsagepubl
language English
topic Psychiatry and Mental health
spellingShingle Psychiatry and Mental health
Seltzer, Allan
Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
topic_facet Psychiatry and Mental health
description The phenomenon of acculturation stress is described with particular reference to the subsequent development of the transitional role conflict. The adolescent and young adult male Eskimo is especially susceptible to the anxiety generated by the process of acculturation and it is the interaction of this external stress with the bio-psycho-social characteristics of the individual within his ecological group, that may lead to an increased incidence of mental disorder. The clinical picture that develops will depend on the complex interaction of this psychosocial stressor and the level of ego development and its accompanying defence and coping strategies. We see how the development of manifest psychopathology in two young Inuit males was intimately associated with the stresses of acculturation acting upon personalities characterized by a low self-esteem and negative self-image, feelings of emasculation and a state of anomie. Coping and defensive strategies exhibited both similarities (drugs, alcohol, withdrawal, acting out) and differences (psychosis versus dissociation). The value of modified supportive therapy with continuity of care aimed at increasing self-esteem through sublimation, identification, reduction of dependency and encouragement of growth and autonomy is described, as are measures aimed at primary prevention.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Seltzer, Allan
author_facet Seltzer, Allan
author_sort Seltzer, Allan
title Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
title_short Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
title_full Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
title_fullStr Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
title_full_unstemmed Acculturation and Mental Disorder in the Inuit
title_sort acculturation and mental disorder in the inuit
publisher SAGE Publications
publishDate 1980
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/070674378002500213
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674378002500213
genre eskimo*
inuit
genre_facet eskimo*
inuit
op_source The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
volume 25, issue 2, page 173-181
ISSN 0706-7437 1497-0015
op_rights http://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1177/070674378002500213
container_title The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
container_volume 25
container_issue 2
container_start_page 173
op_container_end_page 181
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