Opinions about Mental Illness

A Comparison of American and Greek Professionals and Laymen

Bibliographic Data

ID13674331
AuthorsJames Koutrelakos (Hunter College, corresponding author), Stacey Gedeon (0000-0002-7905-6175, Athens State University), S M Gedeon (Athens University), Elmer L Struening (United States Department of State)
Year1978
Volume43
Issue3
Pages915-923
Publication date1978-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2466/pr0.1978.43.3.915
PMID740834
OpenAlexW2035945952
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited24

The attitudes of professionals and laymen in the USA and in Greece towards mental patients were compared by using the Opinions Towards Mental Illness questionnaire. Two factors labeled Authoritarian-Restrictiveness and Familial Interaction were identified and judged to reflect traditional cultural values. Nationality was more powerful than professional training in determining attitudes towards mental illness. The influence of professional training appears selective and limited by local societal norms

Authoritarianism · Immigration · Mental health · Mental illness · Nationality · Political science · Politics · Psychiatry · Restrictiveness · Clinical Psychology · Community Health and Development · Psychology · Social and Cultural Studies · Social Psychology