Sociology and health

Study Notes

Definition: Cultural norms are the shared values, beliefs, and customs that are widely accepted and expected within a particular culture or society.
Influence on behavior: Cultural norms shape individual behavior by providing guidelines for what is considered appropriate or acceptable.
Types of norms:
- Folkways: informal norms that are not strictly enforced, e.g. table manners
- Mores: strongly held norms that are enforced by social pressure, e.g. laws against murder
- Taboos: strongly forbidden norms, e.g. incest
Norms and health:
- Cultural norms can influence health behaviors, e.g. diet, exercise, and hygiene practices
- Norms can also affect health outcomes, e.g. cultural beliefs about mental illness can impact seeking help

Definition: Socialization is the process by which individuals learn and internalize social norms, values, and behaviors.
Agents of socialization:
- Family: primary socialization agent, influencing values and norms from an early age
- Peers: socialization through friendships and peer groups
- Education: formal education influences socialization through curriculum and social interactions
- Media: socialization through media representation and messaging
Socialization and health:
- Socialization influences health behaviors, e.g. learning healthy habits or unhealthy norms
- Socialization can also impact health outcomes, e.g. cultural beliefs about body image

Definition: Sociology of health examines how social factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, and occupation, impact health outcomes.
Social determinants of health:
- Socioeconomic status: income, education, occupation, and access to resources
- Social environment: housing, transportation, and access to healthcare
- Cultural and social norms: influencing health behaviors and outcomes
Health inequities:
- Disparities in health outcomes between different social groups, e.g. racial/ethnic minorities, low-income populations
- Structural barriers to healthcare access, e.g. lack of health insurance, language barriers

Definition: Medical anthropology examines the cultural and social contexts of health and illness.
Key concepts:
- Cultural competence: understanding and respect for diverse cultural beliefs and practices
- Health beliefs: cultural and personal beliefs about health and illness
- Illness narratives: personal stories of illness experience and meaning
Applied anthropology and health:
- Anthropologists work in healthcare settings to improve cultural competence and health outcomes
- Anthropological research informs health policy and program development

Cultural norms are shared values, beliefs, and customs that shape individual behavior and provide guidelines for what is considered appropriate or acceptable.
Folkways are informal norms that are not strictly enforced, such as table manners, while mores are strongly held norms that are enforced by social pressure, like laws against murder.
Taboos are strongly forbidden norms, such as incest, and are often considered unacceptable by society.
Cultural norms influence health behaviors, including diet, exercise, and hygiene practices, and can also affect health outcomes, such as cultural beliefs about mental illness impacting seeking help.

Socialization is the process by which individuals learn and internalize social norms, values, and behaviors.
Family is the primary socialization agent, influencing values and norms from an early age, while peers, education, and media also play significant roles.
Socialization influences health behaviors, such as learning healthy habits or unhealthy norms, and can also impact health outcomes, such as cultural beliefs about body image.

The sociology of health examines how social factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, and occupation, impact health outcomes.
Social determinants of health include socioeconomic status, social environment, and cultural and social norms.
Health inequities arise from disparities in health outcomes between different social groups, such as racial/ethnic minorities, and are often caused by structural barriers to healthcare access, like lack of health insurance or language barriers.

Medical anthropology examines the cultural and social contexts of health and illness.
Cultural competence is essential in healthcare, as it involves understanding and respect for diverse cultural beliefs and practices.
Health beliefs are cultural and personal beliefs about health and illness, and illness narratives are personal stories of illness experience and meaning.
Anthropologists work in healthcare settings to improve cultural competence and health outcomes, and anthropological research informs health policy and program development.