ANTHROP 3HI3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Somatization, Pain Scale, Rheumatology

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 3HI3
• Professor: Priscilla Medeiros

Document Summary

Lecture (cid:1007): the anthropology of pain (cid:894)jan (cid:1006)(cid:1007)(cid:895) Generally think of pain as an outward manifestation: definition aligns with disease model, fails to consider social and cultural influences. Pain is an inseparable part of everyday life. Many forms of healing or diagnosis also involves some form of pain. Poses problems for sufferers and for those around them. Leads to frustration and distrust in practitioners who are unable to explain or effectively treat their illness. Often intimately linked to social and psychological problems. Definition: public pain depe(cid:374)ds o(cid:374) the perso(cid:374)"s i(cid:374)terpretatio(cid:374) of the sig(cid:374)ifi(cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:272)e of pain: attitudes towards pain are acquired early in life. Ideas of pain tend to change over time. Legiti(cid:373)a(cid:272)(cid:455) of o(cid:374)e"s pai(cid:374) is ofte(cid:374) sta(cid:374)dardized (cid:271)(cid:455) wa(cid:455) of sig(cid:374)ali(cid:374)g. Signaling differs cross-culturally, but can be interpreted through cultural and social contexts. Pain behavior may mask the underlying psychological state of an individual. Pain is often linked to a variety of other somatic symptoms (ex; depression, anxiety)