CULTURE AND HEALTH

WEEK 5
CULTURE AND HEALTH

Psychology is an applied science aimed at bettering self

and others.
One of the areas psychological principles are applied is
health care.
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Psychology in health care:-

Primary and secondary health care
curing and preventing psychological disorders
fostering psychological well being
Fostering balance between others and the
environment
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Generally:
Culture has a role in etiology(cause), maintenance and
treatment of diseases.
Cultural beliefs influence the treatment, clinician-
client relationship and understanding of the problem.
There are Cross- cultural differences regarding
perceptions of problems and preferred strategies of
coping with these problems
The traditional model of sickness focuses on
pathogens inside the body.
This was reinforced by the traditional mental illness
model that saw mental distress as emanating from
psychological and physiological states inside the
person as a result of learning or fixation.
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According to World health organization, Health is a

state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being, and not merely absence of disease or
infirmity.
It’s about happiness and vitality not just absence of
morbidity (sickness and disability). This a better view
of health than the above models.
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Cultural diversity exists in conception of health.

 For example the Chinese see health as a state of
balance between Ying and Yang.
What does this mean?
The imbalance is due to foods, supernatural forces,
changes in relationships, weather changes
Need for balance between mind and the spirit.
Yin qualities are female energy, softness, being
passive, heaviness, coolness, feeling, and
surrender.
Yang attributes are male energy, hardness, being
assertive, buoyancy, heat, thinking, and attack.
The yang partner offers yang energy in exchange
for yin, and the yin partner receives yang and
gives back yin energy
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Introduction to Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang (pronounced yong, as in 'gong') is one of
the most fundamental concepts in Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM), as it is the foundation of diagnosis
and treatment.
The earliest reference to Yin and Yang is in the I Ching
(Book of Changes) in approximately in 700 BC. In this
work, all phenomena are said to be reduced to Yin-
Yang.
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Yin
Translations:
female, passive, negative principle in nature
the moon
shaded orientation
north or shady side of a hill
south of a river
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Yang
Translations:
positive, active, male principle in nature
south or sunny side of a hill
North of a river.
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Yin Yang had been understood for many centuries, but

was systematically elaborated and written down by
Tsou Yen of the Yin Yang (Naturalist) School in the
Warring States Period (476-221 BC).
The Naturalist school promoted idea of living in
harmony with natural laws.
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Scholars of this school interpreted natural

phenomena and observed how these are reflected in
the human body in health and disease.
Yin and Yang and the Five Elements became an
integral part of Chinese philosophy
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The ancients observed 2 phases of constant cyclical

change. Yin constantly changes into Yang & back into
Yin again.
This can be seen in the changes of four seasons, and
the changes throughout a single day as seen below
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24 Hour Yin Yang Cycle

(12 PM corresponds to Utmost Yang, while 12AM
corresponds to Utmost Yin)
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Native Americans believed that health constitutes

living in harmony with the self, others and the
environment as whole.
Too much change has increased suicidal behavior
among them.
How do other cultures influence the way people
conceptualize health
Universally?
Culture specific?
In some cultures health is from the physical,
environmental, spiritual well beings
In Luo HIV was seen as a curse-chira
Schizophrenia is a curse (something may have
happened)
Self is physical, while non physical is ancestors the
living dead.
Remembered through naming and libation
Interventions when there is ill-health is culture
specific ie:
Witch doctor- to restore chemical balance
Prayers – others think its sin
Interventions as a counsellor

Empower clients from their own world views

There is power of the mind
If it is religious empower them towards their own
beliefs-rituals, forgiveness, incense, faith healing
Appeasing the dead by- sacrifices i.e. of blood.
If they are wife beaters- bring a white lizard
Medical interventions –hospitals/drugs
Phenomenology - the scientific study of subjective
experiences.
Phenomena experienced without theories (lived
experience)
HOW DO DIFFERENT CULTURES
COMMUNICATE HEALTH
Is it direct explicit/open /obvious
Is it indirect implicit/implied/hidden
Some illness cause shame
Do you think clients are likely to open up in
sessions.?
What is the role of family in management of health?
In collectivist cultures like Somali health is work of
the community
Mental health in universal and cultural specifics
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Africans believed that health included harmony with

the entire cosmos starting with the self, others
including the kinsmen and the unborn, nature, the
ancestors, the deities the living dead and the Supreme
God.
There was an elaborate system of taboos, and
abominations.
 This in ancient Egypt was also called Ma’at
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The 42 Divine Principles of Maat:

I have not committed sin.
I have not committed robbery with violence.
I have not stolen.
I have not slain men or women.
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I have not stolen food.

I have not swindled offerings.
I have not stolen from God/Goddess.
I have not told lies.
I have not carried away food
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In Africa, the curse, the abomination, and kinship

values still shape conceptions of behaviour. Ill health
is associated with:
Disturbing the environment
Taking too much from the environment
Not keeping the values of culture
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Not living in harmony with others

Disturbing plant and animal life
Misuse of sacred and religious ceremonies
Witchcraft
Strong and uncontrolled emotion
Breaking social rules and taboos
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The concept of Ubuntu and the social values it

represents
It has also been described as a philosophy of life,
which in its most fundamental
represents personhood, humanity, humanness and
morality
 A metaphor that describes group solidarity where
such group solidarity is central to the survival of
communities with a scarcity of resources,
You are because they are, and because they re we are.
Healing in different cultures
May use herbal
Yoga
Reflexology
spiritual
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Where the fundamental belief is that "motho ke

motho ba batho ba bangwe/umuntu ngumuntu
ngabantu" which, literally translated, means a person
can only be a person through others.[
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In other words the individual's whole existence is

relative to that of the group: this is manifested in anti-
individualistic conduct towards the survival of the
group if the individual is to survive. It is a basically
humanistic orientation towards fellow beings.
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CULTURAL BELIEFS AND HEALTH

Cultural practices and beliefs regarding can prevent
understanding of health or sustain ill health for
example: for example:-
Female genital mutilation beliefs
Beliefs regarding cannabis smoking
Beliefs regarding expressing angers
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Beliefs regarding protected sex

Beliefs regarding alcohol intake
Beliefs regarding food intake.
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Ideas of healing disease from various cultures have

increased. For example:-
Herbal remedies like Neem tree and Muarubaini,
Moringa and Aloe vera
Yoga, Acupuncture
Reflexology
Spiritual healing
Preservation of the environment and natural forest
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CULTURAL CONCEPTIONS OF THE BODY

Cultures have different metaphors of conceptualizing
the body.
Ancient Greeks conceptualized health as constituting
balance between the four fluids
 Blood, Phlegm, Black bile and Yellow bile.
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Body produced Complexion
Humour Element Qualities Personality
substance by and Body type

amorous, happy,
hot and red-cheeked, generous,
Sanguine blood liver air
moist corpulent optimistic,
irresponsible

violent, vengeful,
red-haired,
Choleric yellow bile spleen fire hot and dry short-tempered,
thin
ambitious

cold and Sluggish, pallid,

Phlegmatic phlegm lungs water corpulent
moist cowardly

Introspective,
gall cold and
Melancholic black bile earth sallow,thin sentimental,
bladder dry
gluttonous
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Body shape metaphors also differed across cultures

Rich American and Europeans prefer trim bodies.
Ugandans and Africans as a whole prefer bigger and
heavier bodies. Well rounded.
As expected food intake in such cultures is not
watched.
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CULTURAL AND DISEASE

Culture plays a role in maintenance of health and
production of disease processes.
For example Type A personality always pressed of
time, in a rush, irritable is linked to cardiovascular
disease.
Studies have linked unemployment to :
Higher mortality
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Cardiovascular disease
Cancer
Goal frustration
 Also Negative life events have been linked to
Gastro intestinal disorders
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Stress has been linked to many conditions like

Tonsils
Common cold
Stroke
Cancer
Etc.
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Pessimistic explanation styles have been linked to

illnesses
High social economic status have been linked with
health
Low social economic status have been linked with
poor health ( poverty)
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Addictive disorders
Perceived racism and discrimination
Xenophobia
Tribalism
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Cross cultural adaptation stress

Social isolation
1985 Americans had 3 confidants
By 2004 most common answer was that they had no
confidants
Yet there is a relationship between isolation and
cardiovascular disease.
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Social isolation
1985 Americans had 3 confidants
By 2004 most common answer was that they had no
confidants
Yet there is a relationship between isolation and
cardiovascular disease.
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Individualism is also connected with Type A

personality and cardiovascular disease.
Collectivistic cultures have deep and more meaningful
social ties which provide the necessary buffers against
isolation.
See figure 7.6
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There is increasing obesity in industrialized societies

WASHINGTON — The obesity epidemic may be
slowing, but don't take in those pants yet.
Today, just over a third of U.S. adults are obese. By
2030, 42 percent will be, says a forecast released
Monday.
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That's not nearly as many as experts had predicted

before the once-rapid rises in obesity rates began
leveling off. But the new forecast suggests even small
continuing increases will add up.
Why?
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Why?
Fast food culture... tired over refined, genetically
modified
Soft drinks( too sugary)
Lack of exercise
Soft food to swallow like Ramen, undon
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Lack of farm produce

Food sport( tabemawari in japan)
Over eating
Lack of exercise
