Social Influences Flashcards
What is well-being?
Being or doing well in life. Happy, healthy, or prosperous condition.
What is the definition of health (WHO)?
The extent an individual or group is able to realise aspirations and safety needs ; and to change or cope with their environment.
What is a criticism of this definition?
- It’s unrealistic - this definition leaves most of us unhealthy as few if any people have complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
- It doesn’t take account of temporary ill-health, chronic illness, and disabilities.
What is the general definition of health?
Physical and emotional wellbeing, especially relating to normal functioning of the body being free from disease, illness, and injury.
What is disease?
A condition of the body, or part of the body where it’s functions are impaired ; a diagnosable biological dysfunction.
What is illness?
A unique experience ; an unhealthy condition of the mind or body. I.E. Sickness
Why does the definition of health and illness vary?
Because it is a socially constructed ideal of well-being or social functioning, which varies among social groups depending on class, gender, ethnic group, and age.
What does sociology do?
Explores individuals operating in the social world and their relationship with it, OR it studies humans in the social world.
How does sociology see the world?
It looks beyond the individual and to the wider social explanations to individual behaviour.
What approach does sociology take?
Looks further by looking for patterns under everyday behaviour ; and explore links between individual behaviour and broader social structures.
What is ‘The Sociological Imagination’ and who wrote about it?
C. Wright. Mills in 1959, meaning “The ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures”. It looks at historical and social forces which have shaped the individual. Views individual issues as public issues.
What are determinants of health? (With examples)
Conditions that influence the health of individuals positively and/or negatively.
Not limited to, but includes environment, culture, access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, government policy, and educational attainment.
Examples of recent situations where determinants of health are present.
Cost of living crisis, childcare costs, and knife crime.
