What Is Normal? Flashcards
Give an example of statistical normality
Anything with a normal Gaussian distribution, e.g. ‘Normal’ ranges quoted with upper and lower values
Give an example of optimal normality
BMI, Recommended Vitamin D range
Give an example of social normality
Reference to social ‘norms’, e.g. Acceptable dress codes, sexuality
How do ideas of normality apply to how we think about illness, disease, and sickness?
Illness: personal, subjective experience of feelings
Disease: pathological process - objective. Deviation from biological norm
Sickness: social role assigned to people perceived to be ill
What 3 factors contribute to the WHO definition of Health?
Physical
Mental
Social
What are the two broad models of ‘Health’?
Medical and Social
Outline the key points of the medical model
Health stems from biology
Health is absence of disease
Disease caused by pathological changes
Medicine’s role is to cure disease
Outline the key points of social model
Health is a social construct
Ill health caused by social/cultural factors, not just biological
Can have a disease but still consider oneself healthy
What are the main criticisms of the medical model of health?
Most power in hands of doctor
Chronic/degenerative conditions with no simple biological cause or cure don’t fit well
Social factors do count
What are the 4 main ways people think about their health?
Health as absence of illness
Health as functional ability
Health as equilibrium
Health as freedom
What are the three ways of considering normality?
Statistical
Optimal
Social