Table Of ContentSex Roles and
Psychopathology
Sex Roes and
Psychopat ogy
0
Edited by
Cathy Spatz Widom
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
Plenum Press • New York and London
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Sex roles and psychopathology.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Psychology, Pathological. 2. Sex role. I. Widom, Cathy Spatz, date- . [DNLM:
1. Identification (Psychology) 2. Psychopathology. WM 100 S518]
RC455.4.S45S48 1984 616.89 83-24774
ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-4564-0 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-4562-6
001: 10.1007/978-1-4684-4562-6
©1984 Plenum Press, New York
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1984
A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation
233 Spring Street, New York, N.Y. 10013
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
To the memory of my father, Jack Spatz,
to my mother, Paula, and
to the future of my daughter, Rebecca
Contributors
Mary Ellen CoHen • Study Director, Center for Survey Research, 100
Arlington Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Sue Cox • Research Associate, Langley-Porter Neuropsychiatric In
stitute, University of California-San Francisco, 564 30th Street, San
Francisco, California 94131
Nancy Datan • Professor of Psychology and Co-Director, West Virginia
University Gerontology Center, Morgantown, West Vir
ginia 26506
Ellen Dwyer • Assistant Professor of Forensic Studies, Indiana Univer
sity, 302 Sycamore Hall, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Robert F. Erne • Clinical Child Psychologist, Forest Hospital and Foun
dation, Des Plaines, and private practice, 731 Grey Street, Evan
ston, Illinois 60202
Linda Fidell • Professor of Psychology, California State University,
Northridge, California 91330
Stephen Finn • Graduate Student in Clinical Psychology, University of
Minnesota, N438, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minne
sota 55455
Linda Holt • Graduate School of Psychology, West Virginia University,
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506
Ronald A. LaTorre • Research Associate, Program Resources, Van
couver School Board, 1595 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British
Columbia V6J 1Z8, Canada
Gloria R. Leon • Associate Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry,
and Associate Director, Clinical Psychology Training Program, Uni
versity of Minnesota, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, Minne
sota 55455
David Lester· Professor of Psychology, Stockton State College,
Pomona, New Jersey 08240
vii
viii Contributors
Jeanne C. Marsh • Assistant Professor, School of Social Service Admin
istration, University of Chicago, 969 East 60th Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60637
Jane E. Platt • Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Millhauser Laborato
ries HN 404, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Ave
nue, New York, New York 10016
Lenore Sawyer Radloff • Research Psychologist, Statistician, and Psy
chiatric Epidemiologist, National Institute of Mental Health, Center
for Epidemiological Studies, Division of Biometry and Epidemiol
ogy, Room lSC-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20S57
Wendy E. Stock • Therapist and Research Assistant, Sex Therapy Cen
ter, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Health Sci
ence Center-School of Medicine, State University of New York,
Stony Brook, New York 11794
Cathy Spatz Widom • Chairperson and Associate Professor of Forensic
Studies, and Associate Professor of Psychology, Indiana University,
302 Sycamore Hall, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Barbara Ann Winstead • Assistant Professor of Psychology, Old Do
minion University, 1410 West 4Sth Street, Norfolk, Virginia 2350S
Barry E. Wolfe • Assistant Chief, Psychosocial Treatments Research
Branch and Chief, Outcome Studies Section, Division of Extramural
Research Programs, National Institute of Mental Health, Room
10C-1S, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,
Maryland 20S57
Peter B. Zeldow • Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and
Social Sciences, and Director of Education, Rush Presbyterian-St.
Luke's Medical Center, 1753 West Congress Parkway, Chicago,
Illinois 60612
Preface
Psychopathology is the science of deviant behavior. However, as psy
chopathologists, our explanations of deviant behavior are not developed
in a sterile, laboratory environment. Abnormality is a relative concept,
and the labeling of someone or some behavior as abnormal is inextrica
bly linked to a particular social context. In the United States, for exam
ple, a woman reporting vivid hallucinations is likely to be committed to
a mental hospital and the behavior considered maladaptive. In other
cultures, the same behavior may be interpreted as reflecting magical,
healing powers, and the woman honored and revered.
An explicit assumption underlying this book is that elements of
social causality influence the development and maintenance of psycho
pathology. While the chapters emphasize environmental influences,
this is not intended to negate the importance of physiological, biological,
genetic, or hormonal factors in relation to psychopathology.
The purpose of this book is to examine the impact of sex role ster
eotypes on the occurrence and distribution of specific forms of psycho
pathology. In contrast to prior work, which emphasizes sex differences
(e.g., Franks and Gomberg's Gender and Disordered Behavior) these are not
the primary focus of this volume. Sex Roles and Psychopathology analyzes
the extent to which cultural norms about the sexes, societal expectations
and values about sex-typed behavior and sex differences, and profes
sional biases influence the development, manifestation, and mainte
nance of abnormal behavior among men and women.
We hope to stimulate researchers to ask further questions about the
relationship between sex roles and specific kinds of psychopathology.
For example, to what extent are diagnostic criteria influenced by vari
ables that may be theoretically irrelevant to a diagnosis? To what extent
are similarities in the behavior of males and females interpreted differ
ently in the context of psychiatric diagnoses?
Sex Roles and Psychopathology should be of interest to a wide au-
ix
x Preface
dience. Professionals and students alike in psychology, psychiatry, com
munity psychology, evaluation research, epidemiology, mental-health
service fields, social work, women's studies, and sociology should find
these chapters informative and, in some cases, quite provocative.
This book contains chapters that synthesize the results of empirical
research, as well as chapters representing original theoretical analyses
focusing on specific forms of psychopathology. Some chapters represent
"state-of-the-art" reviews, particularly on topics where extensive re
search has been done and conceptual models developed. Other chapters
break new ground and encourage the emergence of new approaches to
research.
We begin with a historical review of psychiatric theory and practice
in the 19th century and conclude with a discussion of contemporary
medical practices. In between, chapters are organized into four major
sections: Neurotic, Affective, and Schizophrenic Disorders; Social De
viation and Sexual Dysfunction; Age-Related Disorders, and Societal
Management and Control.
As was evident in the 19th century, medical and psychiatric theory
and practice were not sex blind. Some would argue that contemporary
psychology and psychiatry cannot and should not be sex blind. Howev
er, this book draws attention to the ways in which definitions, diagnos
tic criteria, study designs, and conclusions are influenced by sex-role
stereotypic assumptions. It is hoped that recognition of the biases inher
ent in our theory and practice will lead to further research and under
standing of the role of sociocultural factors in the etiology, diagnosis,
and treatment of a variety of forms of psychopathology.
Acknowledgments
As editor, I want to express my appreciation to the authors of the chap
ters. Their excitement and enthusiasm about the book and their interest
and cooperation kept my spirits buoyed at difficult times. To Mary De
Shong, my secretary in the Department of Forensic Studies, my sincere
thanks for patience and good humor in typing and retyping chapter
drafts. I am most appreciative of the advice and insightful, critical, and
constructive comments of Michael G. Maxfield. Without his constant
encouragement and emotional support, this book would never have
been completed. Finally, to Rebecca, Michael, and Mary, I want to ex
press my gratitude for tolerating my "craziness" during the final stages
in the preparation of this volume.
xi
Contents
PART I Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Sex Roles and Psychopathology 3
Cathy Spatz Widom
Psychopathology in a Social Context 3 Sex, Roles, and
Psychopathology 4 Overview of the Chapters 10
References 17
Chapter 2 A Historical Perspective 19
Ellen Dwyer
Introduction 19 Nineteenth-Century Psychological
Thought 20 Specific Syndromes 32 Nineteenth-Century
Psychiatric Practice in Lunatic Asylums 38 Conclusion 42
References 43
PART II Neurotic, Affective, and Schizophrenic Disorders 49
Chapter 3 Gender Ideology and Phobias in Women 51
Barry E. Wolfe
Introduction 51 Phobias 52 Sex Roles and the Ideology
of Gender Differentiation 55 Gender Ideology and
Phobias 56 Current Limitations of the Gender Ideology
Model of Phobias 63 Summary and Conclusions 68
References 69
Chapter 4 Hysteria 73
Barbara Ann Winstead
xiii
