Sociology Definitions Flashcards
The Biomedical Model
Health based on diagnosis + explanation of illness as a malfunction of the body’s biological mechanisms
The Social Model
Health as a state of complete physical, mental + social wellbeing
Sociology
Systematic study of humans in relation to society + social relations
Social Structures
Patterned social arrangements determining the everyday practices of people which reproduce a similar social structure
Class/ Social Class
Position in a system of structured inequality based on unequal distribution of power, wealth, income + status
Gender/ Sex
Social practices by which biological reproductive distinction makes social differences + power relations
Ethnicity
Shared cultural background, characteristic of all groups in society
Social Construction
What we consider to be ‘real’ in life is shaped by those around us
Social Determinants of Health
Socially constructed social structures which directly or indirectly influence individual or population health
Culture
The language + customs of a society or group
Ethnic Minority
Ethnic groups that are not the dominant ethnic group in a society
Ethnocentric
Viewing others from one’s own cultural perspective with an implied sense of cultural superiority based on an inability to understand or accept practices and beliefs of other cultures
Multiculturalism
All members of society have right to equal access to services regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or religion
Ethnospecific Services
Services established to meet the needs of specific ethnic groups
Mainstreaming
Provision of services to all members of community through same institutional structure
Cultural competence
Set of congruent behaviours, attitudes, policies + structures that come together in a system or agency among professionals + enables the system to work effectively in cross cultural situations
Marginalisation
Being socially positioned as inferior when groups are unable to fully participate in society
Globalisation
Political, social, economic + cultural developments that result in ppl’s lives being increasingly influenced by global factors
Three dimensions of globalisation
Spatial
Temporal
Cognitive
Global health
Area of study, research + practice that places a priority on improving health + achieving equity in health for all people worldwide
Public health
Public policies + infrastructure to prevent onset + transmission of disease among pop w/ particular focus on sanitation + hygiene
Aid
Funding strategies + programs in poorer countries by wealthier countries assisting w/ achievement of global health initiatives
Medical pluralism
Vast array of healing modalities across globe, in particular to increasing popularity of alternative therapies + their coexistence w/ biomedicine in Westernised societies
