health problems as social issues

Question 1

sociology

Answer 1

social science that examines human society

Question 2

sociology of health

Answer 2

explores how society (social norms, social interactions, social relationships ) shapes and constrains individual health

Question 3

WHO definition of health

Answer 3

-not just the absence of something
-its something we have or dont
-concept of mental and social wellbeing in addition to physical health

Question 4

two models of health considered in western societies

Answer 4

biomedical model and social model

Question 5

biomedical model of health ***

Answer 5

assumes “health and illness are objective biological states”
-based on diagnosis and explanation of illness as a malfunction of the bodys biological mechanisms
-health is an individual responsibility
-focus is on treating individuals, not the origins of illness

Question 6

defining characteristics of the biomedical model of health

Answer 6

1. cartesian mind/body dualism
2. machine metaphor
3. doctrine of “ specific etiology:
4. technological imperative

Question 7

cartesian mind/body dualism

Answer 7

-mind and body seperate (dualism)
-disease/illness in the body -> health interventions focus on the body
-psychological aspect of illness ignored

Question 8

body as machine metaphor

Answer 8

body= machine of discrete parts (organs, bones etc)
-disease and illness = “breakdown” of the body
-physicians “repair” body

Question 9

doctrine of “specific etiology”

Answer 9

doctrine : set of beliefs or teachings
etiology : a cause or an origin
-the belief that for each disease there is a specific cause
-leads to search of treatment for said disease
specific cause ** for illness
specific treatment

Question 10

technological imperative

Answer 10

treatment/repair of the body through technological interventions
-experts apply to body (chemo, surgery, presc meds)

Question 11

limits of biomedical model

Answer 11

1. fallacy of “specific etiology” doctrine (only 1 cause)
2. objectification and medical scientism : scientiific understanding of issue is only relevant issue
3. reductionism and biological determinism
4. victim blaming

Question 12

social model of health

Answer 12

assumes health related to / determined by various social factors (income, education, gender, culture)
-promoting health is a social responsibility
-aims to prevent illness, reduce health inequities, and address underlying social causes of illness

Question 13

defining characteristics of social model of health

Answer 13

1. social production/ distribution of health and illness
2. social construction of health and illness
3. social organization of health care

Question 14

social production/distribution of health and illness

Answer 14

illness = an individuals social environment
-social conditions that produce illness or risk of illness

Question 15

social construction of health and illness

Answer 15

what is considered to be a disease in one culture or time period may be considered normal and healthy elsewhere at other times
-eg homosexuality

Question 16

social organization of health care

Answer 16

how health services are funded, organized and used collectively influence health and illness
eg. canadian health care

Question 17

how to cure illness/disease in social model of health

Answer 17

1. public policy
2. state intervention to alleviate health and social inequalities
3. community participation, advocacy and political lobbying

Question 18

limits of social model of health

Answer 18

1. achieving equality/equity is utopian and unachievable
2. the emphasis on societal causes can detract from exploring biological causes
3. solutions are complex, costly, and difficult to implement
4. over-emphasis on individual responsibility for health

Question 19

does adapting a social model take away from the fact that illnesss are physiological and biological

Answer 19

no, we need both models for a thorough holistic approach

holistic : support that looks at the whole person