chapter 10 Flashcards
Medical anthropology
a subfield of anthropology that focuses on health, disease and illness, the cultural dimensions of health definitions and experiences, and the cultural construction of medical systems.
Disease
focuses on biology
Illness
focus on sufferers experience
Sickness
focuses on society
Typhoid Mary
Let’s say you are carrying a deadly bacteria in your body, one that causes a fever as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius), joint pain and diarrhea, and possibly death. And, to make matters worse, you are highly contagious. Surely you are sick. Yet what if you have no symptoms, in spite of this pathogen thriving in your body?
Taxonomy
system of categorization; the ways conditions, syndromes, or processes are grouped
Medicalization
the process by which a particular physical ailment, experience, or process becomes understood as properly being in the realm of medicine.
Culture-Bound Syndrome
Afflictions suffered by certain groups of people who use specific cultural tools to deal with and explain their symptoms, the suspected causal agents, and preferred treatment.
Epidemiology
The study of the incidence, distribution, and spread of disease in a population.
epiepidemiological approach analyzes how culture and environment interact to create conditions for health and disease.
- Paul Farmer and HIV/AIDS in Haiti
- Patricia K. Townsend in Papua New Guinea and Peru
Soheir Morsy
anthropologists can analyze the ways medicine itself comes to be defined in a society by attending to political-economic conditions and power relations.
Alcoholism
classified as a disease, but that has not produced treatments that are primarily biological, such as medication or surgery.
body does not exist separate from culture
from the moment of conception, a human embryo is influenced by the mother’s sound environment, nutrition, and stress, and by the ways in which stress and environment affected the father’s sperm long before conception
ehtnomedicine
how people in specific cultural contexts cope with illness and disease.
Critical medical anthropology
focusing on the ways inequalities of power, economics, and social structures shape practices and understandings of health and healing
health
a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
What conditions need to be in place for an individual to experience health or wellness?
Physical Needs – Access to nutritious food, clean water, shelter, exercise, and healthcare.
Mental and Emotional Health – Stability, access to mental health care, and a supportive environment.
Social Connections – Strong relationships, community belonging, and meaningful interactions.
Economic Security – Employment, financial stability, and the ability to meet basic needs.
Purpose and Meaning – Personal fulfillment, faith, hobbies, or work that brings joy and direction.
Environmental Factors – Clean air, safe housing, and a stable climate.
Cultural Identity and Autonomy – Feeling connected to one’s heritage and having the freedom to express beliefs and traditions.
What are some of the uses of the body as a metaphor, or references to parts of the body in metaphorical ways (e.g., “my heart longs after you”), in Scripture? How are those similar to or different from how you talk metaphorically about the body or aspects of the body in your culture?
The Bible frequently uses the body as a metaphor to convey spiritual truths, relationships, and human experiences. Here are some key examples:
The Body as the Church – Paul compares the Church to a body, where Christ is the head and believers are different members with distinct functions (1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Ephesians 4:15–16). This highlights unity, diversity, and interdependence.
The Heart as the Seat of Emotions and Will – The Bible often uses the heart metaphorically to describe desires, emotions, and moral inclinations (Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God”; Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”).
The Hands Represent Actions – Hands often symbolize human deeds, whether righteous or wicked (Psalm 90:17: “Establish the work of our hands”; Isaiah 59:3: “Your hands are defiled with blood”).
The Feet Represent One’s Path or Way of Life – Walking in righteousness or straying from God’s ways is commonly expressed through feet (Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”).
These conditions are experienced by individuals, but they also relate to social and cultural contexts.
Some cultures prioritize spiritual well-being as essential to health, integrating prayer, meditation, or religious rituals.
In Western societies, health is often seen through a biomedical lens, focusing on medical treatment and physical fitness.
Indigenous and holistic traditions may emphasize harmony with nature and community well-being as central to personal health.
true healing scripture
For Jesus to not only heal her but also recognize her, bless her, and commend her faith meant that he healed her socially and emotionally as well as physically. Jesus recognized that our bodies are not separate from our souls and spirits; true healing addresses all that we are.
- Think of something besides addiction or childbirth that is medicalized. What are the consequences (good or bad) of this process? How/why do you think it happened?
One example of medicalization beyond addiction and childbirth is mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. While recognizing these as medical conditions has led to better treatments, reduced stigma, and increased access to care, it has also sometimes led to over-reliance on medication instead of addressing social or environmental causes.
pro: Increased Awareness and Acceptance, More Access to Treatment,
✅ Increased Awareness and Acceptance – Mental illnesses are now widely recognized as legitimate conditions, reducing stigma.
✅ More Access to Treatment – Insurance covers therapy and medication, making mental healthcare more accessible.
✅ Scientific Advancements – Research into mental health has expanded, leading to better treatments and understanding.
✅ Validation of Personal Struggles – People feel less isolated knowing their experiences have a medical explanation.
con: Pharmaceutical Industry Influence
Over-reliance on Medication – Some patients receive prescriptions without adequate therapy or lifestyle support.
❌ Pathologizing Normal Emotions – Everyday stress, sadness, or grief may be misdiagnosed as clinical disorders.
❌ Pharmaceutical Industry Profit Motives – Drug companies benefit from expanding definitions of mental illness.
❌ Loss of Social and Environmental Perspectives – Economic inequality, trauma, and cultural factors influencing mental health may be overlooked in favor of medical solutions.
