ANTHROP 1AA3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-13 : Structural Violence, Medical Anthropology, Ethnomedicine
5 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
A biocultural perspective attempts to integrate both biological and cultural factors in the holistic study of health. But some medical anthropologists specifically focus on cultural focus. This tends to reflect a theoretical orientation: the body, it"s biology and evolution are considered of secondary influence to the social and cultural factors that more immediately influence health, healing and well-being. : culture is a set of shared meanings embedded in social institutions, and is an implicit shaper of individual beliefs and behaviour. So, when individual beliefs or behaviour is at odds with a set of shared meanings, health may be compromised. William dressler analazyed that individuals who do not conform to or participate in some or cultural components tend to have worse health than those who do conform or participate. Also known as critical medical anthropology, is a perspective that examines power differentials and their impacts on health. This perspective can be viewed through economic status.
