Topic 6 - Illness & Healing Flashcards
What is the Perception of Body and Mind?
Strong dualism between mind/body. Physical illness vs Mental illness. This dualism does not exist everywhere. Body and soul are sometimes seen as connected.
What is the relativist perspective on pathology (illness)?
People from different cultures understand physical and psychological disorders differently. Pathology is culture-specific as well as the treament.
What is the universalist perspective on pathology?
Despite cultural differences, people share similar features. Understanding patholofy should be universal. There are invariable symptoms and objective cures.
What are central symptoms?
Observed in all world populations.
What are peripheral systems?
Culture specific symptoms.
There are 5 things people around the world have different interpretations of. What are they?
Nature of illness, cause, symptoms, prevention and cure.
What are practical tools for coding health problems according to western medical standards?
International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). They do not consider culture specifics.
What is a Culture Specific Syndrome?
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.
What are the characteristics of Cause of Illness?
Considered differently in different cultures. Natural vs Supernatural causes.
What is the naturalistic interpretation of Cause of Illness?
Bacteria, viruses, parasites, aging, genetics, etc.
What is the personalistic interpretation of Cause of Illness?
Curses, ghosts, spirits, spells/magic, divine intervention, etc.
What is Symptoms of Illness?
Some are culture specfic (peripheral), or historically specific.
What is Prevention of Illness?
Also varieis from culture to culture. Natural vs Supernatural prevention.
What is the naturalistic view on Prevention of Illness?
Hygiene, vaccination, protections, diet, sleep, etc.
What is the personalistic view on Prevention of Illness?
Rituals, praying, behaving, amulets, talismans (charms), etc.
What is Medical Anthropology?
The cross cultural study of health, illness, disease and healing.
What is a folk healer?
Some people are considered as having special abilities to diagnose and treat health problems.
Healing sessions may involve important psychotherapeutic techniques such as…
Power of suggestion, restructuring social relations, hypnotism, stimulation of neurochemicals.
What is a shaman?
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.
How does the shaman do his work?
To communicate with the spirits, a shaman uses trance. Induced by various techniques such as mediation, fasting, drumming, hallucinogens, etc.
What is epidomology?
It is part of pure medicine. The study of the occurence, spread, management and prevention of infectious diseases.
How is epidemology linked with culture?
Dangerous/unsafe practices, gatherings that are favored, travelling quickly.
What is cultural epidemology?
When anthropologists help doctors to identify the major pathways of disease transmission, ancipate transmission, and inform population of risks.
What is applied medical anthropology?
When doctors work with anthropologists. Places scientific knowledge in cultural context. Works with unbiased social sceince, western scientific knowledge with traditional means.
