Colonialism
The Colonialist model in psychology is often characterized by the adoption of external, typically Western frameworks for understanding and addressing psychological issues while largely overlooking the cultural, social, and historical factors that shape mental health. While this model acknowledges psychological concepts, it does not essentially deal with them, nor does it seem to understand the particular contexts within which they occur: Colonialism.
When applied to subjective mental health disorders such as depression, the Colonialist model supposedly prioritizes biochemical or pharmacological treatment in the form of drugs or therapy while neglecting culturally, socially, or spiritually embedded concepts that could be part of the nature of the disorder. This essay will apply the Colonialist model to depression, discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and conclude based on these findings.
Application of the Colonialist Model to Depression
Depression is a complex, multi-layered disorder that encompasses not only biological and psychological elements but also cultural and social influences. The Colonialist model defines depression in terms of mostly biological and psychiatric practices or SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). Such interventions are based on the Western biomedical model that either posits depression arising from a chemical imbalance or psychological disorder (Remes et al., 2021). Although effective for some, this approach tends to medicalize depression in a way that neglects the cultural or spiritual understandings of the condition crucial in many non-Western societies.
In many cultures, depression is not only an affliction to the individual but also a communal or spiritual affliction. Treatment in this context may include support, faith, or performance of some ceremonial rites, which are distorted in the Colonialist model. Censoring the local experience onto which globalization of Western modes of treatment lies might give a feeling of detachment from the reality of the person; this would reduce the efficacy of the therapy (Entwistle, 2021).
Advantages and Disadvantages
One of the most salient strengths of the Colonialist model is that its interpretation of depression is biologically valid. The Western medical model, heavy on the inclusion of medications such as SSRIs and therapies like CBT, is exceptionally researched and documented through popular science. Treatments are standardized and replicable; treatments involving a biochemical imbalance in depression tend to be particularly effective. These interventions can give essential, structured support that alleviates symptoms of depression, particularly in resource-poor settings or when culturally adapted therapies may not be available (Fernández & Gutierrez, 2020).
However, one key disadvantage of the Colonialist model is its failure to incorporate cultural and social issues into the treatment of depression. Since its focus is on the individual symptoms, it misses wide vistas of the cultural and communal dimensions of the disorder. In many non-Western cultures, depression is deeply embedded in social relationships, communitarian well-being, and spiritual health, dimensions that are generally not cared for in Western treatments. The introduction of Western practices without considering these indigenous beliefs and practices may be seen as intrusive and may result in patients being alienated or less than optimally treated.
More significantly, the colonialist reductionist model defines depression as a medical problem that can be cured either through drugs or therapy, which leaves it blind to the perspective of how often mental illness results from situational or historical societal pressures (Stein et al., 2022). In this way, depression might be induced by systemic injustices and/or traumas within the experience of a community, issues for which any purely medical solutions do not touch the sources of suffering. This further underscores that mental health care requires a more integrated, culturally sensitive approach.
Conclusion
While the Colonialist model has considerable merits in terms of the standardized, scientifically validated treatments for depression, there are also certain serious limitations. Its medicalized, Western interventions have often disregarded the cultural, spiritual, and social dimensions of the disorder—a fact that has been argued to substantially narrow the approach, often unsuccessfully, across diverse cultural contexts. The complex nature of depression, particularly in a non-Western context, is better situated in an integrative model and one that is culturally sensitive. Thus, attention to and inclusion of cultural and social factors are critical to ensure the approach to mental health becomes more holistic, empathetic, and competent with diverse individuals.
References
Entwistle, D. N. (2021). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Fernández, A. T., & Gutierrez, M. C. (2020). Colonialism, gender and mental health in psychology: A view from Eastern Cuba. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(4), 340–347. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1733941
Remes, O., Mendes, J. F., & Templeton, P. (2021). Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: A review of recent literature. Brain Sciences, 11(12), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121633
Remes, O., Mendes, J. F., & Templeton, P. (2021). Biological, psychological, and social determinants of depression: A review of recent literature. Brain Sciences, 11(12), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121633
Stein, D. J., Shoptaw, S. J., Vigo, D. V., Lund, C., Cuijpers, P., Bantjes, J., Sartorius, N., & Maj, M. (2022). Psychiatric diagnosis and treatment in the 21st century: Paradigm shifts versus incremental integration. World Psychiatry, 21(3), 393–414. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20998
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Question 
Essay Assignment Instructions
Overview
The Essay Assignments provide you with an opportunity to incorporate research and demonstrate course-related knowledge in a written context.
Instructions
You are required to write 5 Essay Assignments in response to a provided prompt in the Essay Topics document. You may use the course textbooks, scholarly articles, and the Bible as sources. Please include a title page and reference page.
Essay must include the following:
- At least 500 words in length.
- Must include at least 3 in-text or parenthetical citations in current APA format.
- The Entwistle textbook is the only required source and must be cited in the text and on the reference page.
- Direct quotes are not permitted.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
Colonialism
Essay: Colonialism and Scriptural Authority and Theological Interpretation Assignment (Choose 1 of the 2 prompts below on which to comment.)
Colonialism
The Colonialist model ostensibly recognizes the value of psychology, but it does not typically result in deep engagement with the findings or methods of psychology. How might this be applied to a topic such as eating disorders or depression? What would be some of the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?
Scriptural Authority and Theological Interpretation
Entwistle distinguishes between scriptural authority and theological interpretation. Do you agree? Why might this distinction be important? Support your view with an example.