HLTA02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Medical Anthropology, Homeopathy, Herbalism
Document Summary
Study of all aspects of society from a cross-cultural perspective. Historically anthropology emerged as the study of the different and "exotic other", with anthropologists researching non-western societies, cultures and social worlds perceived as different to the western developed world. Medical anthropology: examines health-related beliefs, knowledge, and practices of cultural groups, traditional healing and modern medical technologies. The collective beliefs, assumptions and values that are communicated between people within a society. Health is cultural because the process of giving meaning to behaviours and events such as illness occurrences is a cultural one, shaped by the context in which we live. Illness - the social, lived experience of symptoms and suffering as well as the associated behaviour that seeks to rectify the situation, such as seeking treatment and cures. Illness problems - practical dif culties caused by the illness related to socio-cultural expectations. Those often include shame associated with dis gurement and loss of.
