Topic 6 - Illness & Healing

Question 1

What is the Perception of Body and Mind?

Answer 1

Strong dualism between mind/body. Physical illness vs Mental illness. This dualism does not exist everywhere. Body and soul are sometimes seen as connected.

Question 2

What is the relativist perspective on pathology (illness)?

Answer 2

People from different cultures understand physical and psychological disorders differently. Pathology is culture-specific as well as the treament.

Question 3

What is the universalist perspective on pathology?

Answer 3

Despite cultural differences, people share similar features. Understanding patholofy should be universal. There are invariable symptoms and objective cures.

Question 4

What are central symptoms?

Answer 4

Observed in all world populations.

Question 5

What are peripheral systems?

Answer 5

Culture specific symptoms.

Question 6

There are 5 things people around the world have different interpretations of. What are they?

Answer 6

Nature of illness, cause, symptoms, prevention and cure.

Question 7

What are practical tools for coding health problems according to western medical standards?

Answer 7

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). They do not consider culture specifics.

Question 8

What is a Culture Specific Syndrome?

Answer 8

Health problem with a set of symptoms associated with a particular culture. Real health problem due to economic or political situations with associations with religion/beliefs.

Question 9

What are the characteristics of Cause of Illness?

Answer 9

Considered differently in different cultures. Natural vs Supernatural causes.

Question 10

What is the naturalistic interpretation of Cause of Illness?

Answer 10

Bacteria, viruses, parasites, aging, genetics, etc.

Question 11

What is the personalistic interpretation of Cause of Illness?

Answer 11

Curses, ghosts, spirits, spells/magic, divine intervention, etc.

Question 12

What is Symptoms of Illness?

Answer 12

Some are culture specfic (peripheral), or historically specific.

Question 13

What is Prevention of Illness?

Answer 13

Also varieis from culture to culture. Natural vs Supernatural prevention.

Question 14

What is the naturalistic view on Prevention of Illness?

Answer 14

Hygiene, vaccination, protections, diet, sleep, etc.

Question 15

What is the personalistic view on Prevention of Illness?

Answer 15

Rituals, praying, behaving, amulets, talismans (charms), etc.

Question 16

What is Medical Anthropology?

Answer 16

The cross cultural study of health, illness, disease and healing.

Question 17

What is a folk healer?

Answer 17

Some people are considered as having special abilities to diagnose and treat health problems.

Question 18

Healing sessions may involve important psychotherapeutic techniques such as…

Answer 18

Power of suggestion, restructuring social relations, hypnotism, stimulation of neurochemicals.

Question 19

What is a shaman?

Answer 19

Special kind of healer. Based on assumptions that there is a parallel world of spirits (good/evil). Effect lives of living, shamans serve as mediators.

Question 20

How does the shaman do his work?

Answer 20

To communicate with the spirits, a shaman uses trance. Induced by various techniques such as mediation, fasting, drumming, hallucinogens, etc.

Question 21

What is epidomology?

Answer 21

It is part of pure medicine. The study of the occurence, spread, management and prevention of infectious diseases.

Question 22

How is epidemology linked with culture?

Answer 22

Dangerous/unsafe practices, gatherings that are favored, travelling quickly.

Question 23

What is cultural epidemology?

Answer 23

When anthropologists help doctors to identify the major pathways of disease transmission, ancipate transmission, and inform population of risks.

Question 24

What is applied medical anthropology?

Answer 24

When doctors work with anthropologists. Places scientific knowledge in cultural context. Works with unbiased social sceince, western scientific knowledge with traditional means.