MARGARET A. NEWMAN Health as Expanding Consciousness Systems Model Assumptions

Health and Illness in Newman's Theory

• Newman's theory suggests that health encompasses conditions previously described as illness.
• Health is regarded as a continuum with disease and non-disease existing at different points.
• Health is conceptualized not as an absence of disease but as a pattern of the whole.

The Pattern of the Individual

• Health is considered a manifestation of the total pattern of the individual, including their consciousness, environment, and life experiences.
• Consciousness is the primary element and exists before structural or functional changes.
• Clients are defined as individuals who are constantly interacting with their environment and developing unique patterns.

The Pattern of the Whole

• The pattern of the whole is the large whole that contains the consciousness of the individual.
• Illness is considered a manifestation of the pattern of the whole.
• Both the person and the environment are dynamic and evolving.
• Health is an expression of the evolving pattern of the person and environment.

Key Assumptions

• A major assumption is that individuals are constantly seeking to expand and deepen their consciousness.
• This expansion of consciousness is seen as a transformative process toward more inclusive consciousness.
• Unity in diversity is a key concept in Newman's work, suggesting that all beings are interconnected and share a common consciousness.

Summary Points

• Health includes the manifestation of the pattern of the whole, encompassing previously defined illness and wellness.
• Individuals are viewed as dynamic and evolving in their interaction with their environment.
• The pattern of the whole encompasses the individual’s consciousness, environment, and life experiences.
• Consciousness is a fundamental attribute of all beings, linking them in a unified and dynamic whole.