Center Seminar: Monday, January 25, 2016  12:00-1:00pm

Matthew S. Liebowitz
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Psychology, Yale University
Psychology Intern, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/
Weill Cornell Medical Center

Mental disorders increasingly are thought of as illnesses of the brain caused by genetic determinants. This trend favoring biomedical conceptualizations has been assumed to have many benefits.  This talk, however, will present evidence that explaining mental disorders in genetic and neurobiological terms can lead people to feel hopeless about the prospect of recovery and can reduce therapists’ compassion and warmth toward patients.  The talk will also discuss the promise of brief educational messages for reducing the clinical pessimism brought about by genetic and neurobiological perspectives and consider the broader implications of the findings.

Room 204, 10th Floor (PH 10-204)
Presbyterian Hospital Building
622 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032