Diagnosing Homelessness

Tabatha Lang

3120 Abnormal Psychology

Anderson University

Introduction

Homelessness is a growing problem in the United States, and has been for several years now. Is it true that people think all homeless individuals choose the lifestyle of the streets? It is important to realize that there are many reasons that people become homeless. By using these diagnostic systems, the author is hoping to bring some awareness to the homeless situation.

Diagnostic Systems

The two diagnostic systems were designed by the author to explore two aspects of homelessness; the psychological aspect, and the social aspect.

System 1: Psychological

Homeless by choice.	The person chooses homelessness as a lifestyle, and refuses the aid of others to change this lifestyle.
Homeless due to a Mental Disorder.	The person is homeless because they are mentally unable to function in a home situation.
Homeless due to failure to adapt to a tragedy.	The person is homeless because they were unable to continue to function in society after a tragic event occurred in their life.

System 2: Social

Lack of job skills.	The person lacks the basic education or skills required to hold down a basic job.
Lack of intimate relationships.	The person lacks people (friends or family) to support and encourage them.
Lack of interpersonal skills.	The person lacks skills needed to properly communicate in society.

The Psychological diagnostic system focused on determining the mental capacity and functioning of the homeless individual. The diagnosis of homeless by choice involves an individual who chooses the homeless lifestyle, or life on the streets. It is possible that there are people who would be willing to assist this person; if this is true the person will not accept the help. Also, this person may have an education that would be promising to helping them find a job. However, they will not take advantage of this resource. The diagnosis of homeless due to a mental disorder focuses on those individuals who do not have the mental capacity to take care of themselves properly, or to hold down a job. These individuals struggle with meeting their own basic needs from day to day. The diagnosis of homeless due to failure to adapt to a tragedy includes those individuals who, due to tragic circumstances; such as the loss of a loved one, their home burning down, or the sudden loss of their job, are unable to “pick up the pieces” and continue on with their lives. These peoples’ incapacity to deal with tragedy causes them to not have the ability to hold down a job, or to maintain healthy relationships. These mental issues, especially when coupled with the social issues in system two, are possible causes of extended homelessness.

The social diagnostic system focused on how the individual interacted in society, and also how involved they were in society. The design is based on the view that how people respond to society is important to how they are viewed by society, and how they are treated. It is more difficult to find a job or a way off the streets if society views the person as an outcast. The diagnosis of lack of job skills refers to individuals who, for either educational reasons or simply lack of experience in any field, do not have the skills to hold down a basic job. The diagnosis of lack of intimate relationships concerns those persons who, for whatever reason, have no intimate relationships in their lives. This could be due to death, irreconcilable differences, or a number of other reasons concerning the upkeep of relationships. The last diagnosis, lack of interpersonal skills, refers to those individuals who struggle with communication skills and/or listening skills. It is difficult for these individuals to receive or hold down a job because they are what some would call “socially awkward” and struggle with communicating their thoughts. Using these two diagnostic systems, the participants were asked to diagnose the case studies.

Method

Participants

The participants were ten student diagnosticians from an undergraduate Abnormal Psychology course at a small private Midwestern University. An expert was also used; Chad Hacker, the Resident Director of the apartments on the campus, to help determine validity.

Procedure

The eleven randomly selected student diagnosticians were given the 3 case studies in a classroom setting and asked to diagnose whether the individual was homeless: by choice, due to mental disorder, or due to failure to adapt to a tragedy. Also, to determine if they were homeless due to lack of: job skills, intimate relationships, or interpersonal skills according to Diagnostic Systems 1 and 2 (see Appendix A for case studies and scoring). The expert participated outside of the classroom in a coffee shop on campus.

Results

The diagnosticians’ data for each system was gathered, and the reliability and validity scores for each were calculated (see Table 1). System 1 was 100% reliable and 100% valid suggesting that this system may have accurately diagnosed the Psychological reasoning that the individual became homeless. System 2 was 91% reliable and 91% valid, suggesting that, while not yet perfected, it is on the right track to becoming a good diagnostic tool. Sixty-three out of sixty-five people had answers that corresponded with the expert, making the validity of the system as a whole very high; 95%.

Table 1. Results of Diagnosticians’ Responses for Systems 1 and 2.

Case #

Case 1

Case 2

Case 3

Diagnostic System 1

Choice

Disorder

Tragedy

11*

R=33/33

V=33/33

Diagnostic System 2

Job Skills

Relationships

Int. Skills

11*

10*

R=30/33

V=30/33

R=22/22

V=22/22

R=21/22

V=21/22

R=20/22

V=20/22

*indicates the answer given by the expert

R=Reliability

V=Validity

It is possible that the reliability scores were not perfect in System 2 due to the fact that the items were not mutually exclusive. While in most of the case studies one was highlighted, it is easy to see how these items could be intertwined in an individuals life. However, in System 1 it seems clear that each item is mutually exclusive, especially in the case studies provided.

Discussion

System 1 provided information about the mental state of the individual in the case study, as well as their capacity to function when certain circumstances arise. However, information about the person’s everyday life and personality was lost. It was not known how they interact with others, and information about their personal life was omitted.

System 2 provided information about the social life of the individual, and the way

the person functioned in society. This system focused on education, relationships and communication skills; all of which are important to relating to society. However, information about the person’s mental health and well being was omitted.

In general, information about the family history of the individual was lost, as well as whether the person had any specific addiction or illness. Both of these issues are strongly tied to a large number of homeless individuals.

While this diagnostic system was set up to make it simple to diagnose why individuals are homeless, this assignment showed me that it is much more complicated than I had already known. There are so many factors that play into people becoming homeless that it was hard to pinpoint six exact categories that would include the entire population. I learned that it was important to make it clear as to how the diagnostician was supposed to indicate their diagnoses on each case study; I needed to make it as simplistic as possible. I also learned that a lot of case studies conducted within the homeless population are conducted on children. It seemed difficult at times to find studies on adults.

Based on the findings of this study, and the high validity and reliability scores, it seems that this system would be well used in initiating awareness and understanding about the homeless population. It is also possible that a diagnostic tool such as this one could be useful to individuals who are interested in research on the homeless population. Another use could be for social service agencies who are interested in finding the best possible way to aid those in this situation.

Appendix A

Case Study 1

Rebecca is a woman in her mid-forties who, three years ago, lost her two children and husband in a car accident. She recalls being thrown from the vehicle and watching it be consumed with fire as her loved ones remained inside. Previous to this event, she had been a successful attorney, and lived with her family in an upper-middle-class suburb. After this event, Rebecca found it very difficult to be in the home where her family had lived. She turned to her mother, who, due to other issues, told her that she was a burden. She also received this type of response from her deceased husband’s family who told her it was too hard to look at the woman who had “killed” their son and grandchildren. Feeling that she had no one to turn to, Rebecca set out to find her lost family members. At one point, she stood in front of the police chief’s home and screamed that she wanted her family released from prison. She was taken to a psychiatric emergency room, but during the process of admission she slipped away and set out to reunite with her family members. During the three years following this episode Rebecca fell into a life of homelessness, losing all contact with her former world.

* Please circle the letters of the answers that best diagnose this case study (one from each system).