Anthro And Ph Final

Front 1

Conventional Theories of Disease Causation

Back 1

1) germ theory
2) genetic abnormality
3) lifestyles dispose to illness or health
4) disease have multiple causes (physical or psychosocial environment)
5) socially produced

Front 2

Details on the Germ Theory and its problems

Back 2

a.relatively recent theory (late 19th century)
b.external, specific agents are responsible for disease
c.Diseases are short-lived and acute conditions
d.Cure: based on killing disease agent or making it harmless
e.Prevention: cutting contact between host and disease agent (immunity)
f.PROBLEM
i.Ignores psychosocial and historical dimensions of disease
ii.Knowing microorganism that caused disease does not mean it will tell us the nature of disease or why or whom it attacks
iii.Confuses treatment of disease with cause (biological reductionism)
iv.Product of industrial revolution and competition: saw health as an individual and not a collective responsibility

Front 3

Causes of Illness

Back 3

1) underlying stress: smoking and alcohol
2) stress largely due to capitalist social organization
3) we moved from competitive capitalism to monopoly capitalism (improved work conditions but perpetuates injustice)
4) globalization (spread of diseases)

Modernization theory: 3rd world countries are underdeveloped b/c of culturally tradition and economically backward but they already have chronic diseases in epidemic proportions