Age And Gender Differences Attitudes Towards Seeking...

Age and Gender Differences in Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Dawn Poulose 4285054 Wednesday, 18:00hrs Bert Oraison Abstract Attitude towards seeking psychological help has been influenced by various factors. One of the main factors is the stigma attached to consulting psychologists. Many people thinks that, seeking psychological help as a disgrace. Demographic factors and individual attitudes also affect the willingness of the person towards seeking psychological help. The level of education has considerably reduced the stigma related with seeking psychotherapy from psychologists. In this research activity, we will investigate the factors affecting the willingness of a person such as age†¦show more content†¦Seeking any help from outside, especially psychological help has been difficult and embarrassing (Vogel, Wester Larson, 2007, p.410). Traditionally, men talk less and women tend to express themselves more. It is considered that women are emotionally vulnerable than men. This vulnerability and a need for emotional support opens the way for a women to seek psychological help than men (Fischer Farina, 1995, p.368). According to studies of Fischer and Farina (1995, p.370), women were the most positive about seeking help in every aspect, so gender was considered as a major factor but age was appeared unrelated with seeking help. The younger adults tend to have more positive attitude than the older adults as older adults has lived a life where psychological help has been considered a disgrace. The reason behind this attitude difference is basic colleg e education, younger adults with college education has better positive attitude towards seeking psychological help than the older adults without college education (Vogel, Wester Larson, 2007, p.415). Studies says that, societies with strong cultural backgrounds less favourable in seeking help than the societies with a border American culture (Fischer and Farina, 1995, p.372). So, to bring a change in this attitude of societies and individuals, we should know where and whom to start with. Another add-on with this awareness would be, an increased economy of psychological