What Is Normal?

Question 1

Give an example of statistical normality

Answer 1

Anything with a normal Gaussian distribution, e.g. ‘Normal’ ranges quoted with upper and lower values

Question 2

Give an example of optimal normality

Answer 2

BMI, Recommended Vitamin D range

Question 3

Give an example of social normality

Answer 3

Reference to social ‘norms’, e.g. Acceptable dress codes, sexuality

Question 4

How do ideas of normality apply to how we think about illness, disease, and sickness?

Answer 4

Illness: personal, subjective experience of feelings
Disease: pathological process - objective. Deviation from biological norm
Sickness: social role assigned to people perceived to be ill

Question 5

What 3 factors contribute to the WHO definition of Health?

Answer 5

Physical
Mental
Social

Question 6

What are the two broad models of ‘Health’?

Answer 6

Medical and Social

Question 7

Outline the key points of the medical model

Answer 7

Health stems from biology
Health is absence of disease
Disease caused by pathological changes
Medicine’s role is to cure disease

Question 8

Outline the key points of social model

Answer 8

Health is a social construct
Ill health caused by social/cultural factors, not just biological
Can have a disease but still consider oneself healthy

Question 9

What are the main criticisms of the medical model of health?

Answer 9

Most power in hands of doctor
Chronic/degenerative conditions with no simple biological cause or cure don’t fit well
Social factors do count

Question 10

What are the 4 main ways people think about their health?

Answer 10

Health as absence of illness
Health as functional ability
Health as equilibrium
Health as freedom

Question 11

What are the three ways of considering normality?

Answer 11

Statistical
Optimal
Social