Lay Beliefs About Overcoming Psychological Problems

Abstract

This study was concerned with laypeople's beliefs about the importance of 24 different contributors toward overcoming four psychological/behavioral problems: agoraphobia, anorexia nervosa, compulsive gambling, and schizophrenia. Factor analysis revealed five almost identical clusters for each problem, which were labeled inner control, understanding, avoidance, physical basis, and fate. Items clustering on the first two factors were thought of as generally important and those on the last three relatively unimportant, though the perceived relevance of each factor differed significantly between problems. The results are discussed in terms of subjects' beliefs concerning the value of self-reliance as opposed to professional help or the help of others. The similarities and differences between lay and professional attributions are considered, as is the relationship between attributions for cause and for cure.