In five pages this paper examines how psychological diagnoses can be affected by gender and race in an impact assessment of each. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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Ethnicity, race, and gender can impact a number of aspects of our lives. Even the manner in which
we are psychologically diagnosed can be impacted by these factors. Indeed, although there are specific criteria in place for psychological diagnoses, an individuals race, ethnicity and even gender
can result in inaccurate diagnoses in certain instances. Take an African American undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at the hands of a non-African American, for example. That diagnoses can
be impacted by the therapists understanding, or lack of understanding, of the cultural schemata under which the client operates. This impact can be even greater when the therapist is
not only of a different race but a different gender than the client. These contention, as implausible as they may sound, will be demonstrated below in regard to a
condition identified by the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) as conduct disorder. The American Psychiatric Associations
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) is a critical component of the diagnostic procedure. This manual identifies specific criteria which must be met for a client
to be diagnosed with various psychiatric conditions. Understandably, however, the recognition of such impacts as lack of cross-racial understanding is outside the bounds of this manual. Never-the-less, most
therapists are aware that conduct can be determined by a variety of factors, two of the most obvious of which are race and gender. A diagnosis of conduct disorder,
therefore, must be levied very carefully if that diagnose is to reflect a clients true condition and thus to make possible the most effective means of treatment.