PSYC 3350 Chapter Notes -Sickle-Cell Disease, Infant Mortality, Gross Domestic Product

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3350
• Professor: Saba Safdar

Document Summary

Cultures vary in their perceptions of illness and how they define/consider healthy vs disease . Disease: malfunctioning/maladaptation of biological and psychophysiologic processes in the individual . Illness: personal, interpersonal, and cultural reactions to disease or discomfort . Therefore, how we view health, disease, and illness is strongly shaped by our [western] culture. Cultural differences in the definition of health pg. Biopsychosocial model (engel, 1977) health and disease need to be considered from several dimensions (bio, psyc, and social) Biological genetics, physiological functioning of the body. Social lifestyles and activities, quality of friendships, living conditions (ie. poverty) Psychological beliefs and attitudes towards health, emotions, positive thinking (* a more accurate, complete understanding of health) In china, concept of health based on chinese religion focuses on yin and yang resprenting negative and positive energies, respectively our bodies are made up of of yin and yang elements.