Cheetham R W, Rzadkowolski A
S Afr Med J. 1980 Aug 23;58(8):320-5.
The problems encountered by Western-trained psychiatrists in crosscultural research in the multicultural South African population are discussed. In particular, attention is paid to the differing concepts of mental health and mental illness in preliterate societies and to problems of mutual understanding. The several dichotomies in the Western concepts, as they apply to rural African communities, are reviewed in brief. It is postulated that, because of its holistic approach, the most acceptable concept is the general systems theory, which is pertinent to the culture. The theory is characterized by the absence of a mind-body dichotomy, and includes physical, psychological, 'religious' and social aspects.
本文讨论了接受西方培训的精神科医生在对多元文化的南非人群进行跨文化研究时所遇到的问题。特别关注了文盲社会中不同的心理健康和精神疾病概念，以及相互理解的问题。简要回顾了西方概念中适用于非洲农村社区的几个二分法。据推测，由于其整体方法，最可接受的概念是一般系统理论，它与文化相关。该理论的特点是不存在身心二分法，包括身体、心理、“宗教”和社会方面。
