Posted by linkadge on May 17, 2010, at 20:23:24
In reply to Re: History of depression - um? » ed_uk2010, posted by sigismund on May 17, 2010, at 16:10:29
>I wonder if mental illness manifests differently >in individualistic cultures as opposed to >collectivist ones.
Well, collectivist ones likely engage in more "group therapy" so to speak.
Individualist societies also learn to seek reward for ones self. Self focused reward is shallow (like crack). Reward for pleasing others probably employes different brain regions entirely -keeps us connected. Strong social networks help maintain immune responses during stressful times. Strong social networks lower cortisol during stressful events too.
Just the idea of getting ones mind off ones self is probably an extremly powerful antidepressant.
Linkadge
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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100514/msgs/947751.html