An Anthropological View regarding The Ideas on the Causation of Ill-Health Part 2

in #steemstem6 years ago

Dear Reader

I highly encourage you to please read the Introduction Post to this series: An Anthropological View regarding The Ideas on the Causation of Ill-Health Part 1 to help get yourself up to date if you have not already read it.

An Anthropological View regarding The Ideas on the Causation of Ill-Health Part 2

The Individual Responsibilty

Lay theories that locate the origin of ill-health within the individual's body, sometimes relate these illnesses to the diet and behaviour of the sick person. The patient is seen as personally responsible for his/her illness as a result of careless behaviour regarding diet, dress, hygiene, lifestyle, relationships, sexual behaviour, smoking, drinking habits and physical exercise. A poor diet, for example, is seen to cause various disorders. Excessive quantities of fatty foods, coffee, and tea cause headaches, dizziness, "high" and "low" blood pressure, as well as coughs and chest complaints. Stigmatised conditions such as obesity, alcoholism and sexually transmitted diseases are often seen as evidence of an individual's carelessness or reckless behaviour about which he/she should feel guilty.

Common conditions such as a "cold" can be seen to result from incorrect behaviour such as "going outdoors when you have a fever", "sitting in a draught after having a hot bath" or "walking barefoot on a cold floor". Negative emotional feelings such as worry, sadness and despair are also blamed for causing ill-health. In such instances, the sufferer might be regarded as being able to avoid the negative emotions and to be responsible for creating feelings of happiness and contentment instead.

CG Helman notes an interesting correlation between personal responsibility and socioeconomic factors such as education and income. People with a higher socioeconomic status and thus greater economic control over their lives are prone to accept that their health is determined by their own actions. Those who perceive themselves as economically and socially powerless are likely to see their ill-health as the result of external factors (such as "luck" or other external forces).

The cause of some illnesses is regarded as being within the individual body, but outside of the sufferer's conscious control, such as hereditary illness. Asthma, acne and bronchitis (eg "all our family members have weak chests") are sometimes believed to be inherited. Epilepsy is sometimes regarded as a hereditary condition that develops later in life.

In contrast to explanations of ill-health which are individual-centered, we also find lay explanations that regard the origin of ill-health as lying largely outside the control of the individual.


The Natural World

Aspects of the natural environment can be seen to cause ill-health especially climatic conditions such as excessive cold, heat, wind rain or dampness. For instance, in Morocco excessive environmental heat is said to "cause the blood to rise to my head". Some people also consider the position of the sun, moon and planetary bodies as having an influence on their health.


The Social World

An illness may be seen to result from the malice of other people. Such ideas about illness causation are often found in societies where interpersonal conflicts are frequent.

Witches and Sorcerers

Witches or sorcerers are believed to use supernatural means to achieve their aims. Inter-personal feelings of tension or conflict usually underlie accusations of witchcraft and sorcery. Beliefs concerning witchcraft and sorcery are common throughout Africa, and among many South African people, they are frequently regarded as causes of illness. Such beliefs also occur in many societies elsewhere in the world. For example, the Trobriand Islanders ascribe deaths that cannot be explained by natural means to witchcraft or sorcery.

The Evil Eye

The evil eye as a cause of misfortune is recognised in parts of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa The person suspected of having the evil eye may be a stranger or someone who is different in some way from the rest of the community. A jealous look from such a person is believed to be sufficient to cause harm in the form of illness or even death. The harm, however, is unintentional and the possessor of the evil eye may be unaware of his or her powers. The evil eye can be avoided by distracting or by applying some form of mystical protection.

End of Part 2

In Part 3 we will explore the Supernatural World in the causation of illness.

Thank you for Reading.

References:

  • Service : 1978 (256)
  • CG Helman : 1994 (125)
  • Logan : 1977 (487-489)
  • Hammond-Tooke : 1974 (336)
  • Quinian : 2011 (386)
  • Helman : 1994 (121)

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Nice piece buddy.

I also believe that the environment which a person lives in can also affect the person's state of health, and can also affect the person's immune response to infection.

For example: While we were much younger, there was a neighbour of ours who was raised to be drinking only bottled water and maintaining a high level of hygiene and all whatnot. But a point came when they had to travel to the village.
While at the village, he joined other kids to drink water from the stream. And soon, he developed a very nasty diarrhoea, but the other kids were relatively unaffected.
The reason could be that the other kids are used to the environment, and their immune system has beefed up to ward off those infections, but it wasn't so for the other kid.
So there's still a place of environment in the causation of sickness.

Nice piece as usual buddy. I enjoyed this piece.

Hey Sammi, this is a really nice comment :) Like you, I believe the environment also plays a huge role in people's physical and mental health. Not only because of matters of infrastructure, but also for reasons similar to the one you exposed here.

But, if I may, can I ask what is your opinion about the individual responsibility towards his own health? :)

:*

Thanks for the reply to my comment, Abbey.

But, if I may, can I ask what is your opinion about the individual responsibility towards his own health? :)

In my opinion; a person's responsibilities towards his health can be summed up in one sentence: "take care of your health".

But most times, we could become over-reliant on external aids (like antibiotics and prophylaxis), and we lay lesser emphasis on building our immune system naturally, thus making it weak to fight infections on their own.
Take this example: Our grandpas in the village weren't introduced to prophylaxis, but they live(d) very healthy and long lives... or maybe we should even blame evolution for our weakness in this era - what do you think Abbey? :)

we could become over-reliant on external aids ... and we lay lesser emphasis on building our immune system naturally

So true Sammy!

I have an extreme example of this situation. Last year we were invited to a small dinner party, and for dessert the hosts were serving a rich gateou. One of the invitees (a woman in her 50's) suffers from diabetes type 2 and, really ,should avoid eating such things altogether. However, her approach to this was: "Oh, I brought my insulin because I can never resist their desserts"

The reason why I was so shocked is because this lady was already having huge problems with her charcot foot, and was about to have a cataract surgery (all resulted from her disease)!! I actually felt a bit judgmental towards her. Oops! But, I didn't share my thoughts about it with anybody other than my husband back then!

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon my dear :*

Thanks for this example to buttress my point Abbey.
Have a lovely afternoon.

Much love from here 😙

Beliefs concerning witchcraft and sorcery are common throughout Africa, and among many South African people, they are frequently regarded as causes of illness.

These sort of beliefs are also seen in some parts of my country Pups. While the "Evil Eye" explanations are considerably more common in Chile. Interesting, right?

You take care.
It is so nice seeing you posting (and drinking wine) again! :)

Hey Pups!!!
I truly apologise for the delay in replying.

These sort of beliefs are also seen in some parts of my country Pups.

I did read that as well, it is common in the "pheasant people" I am directly quoting my readings :)

It is so nice seeing you posting (and drinking wine) again! :)

Thank you baby sis,

You are truly amazing.

Love ya!!!

Ps : Apology again for the delay in responding .

It is never late to hear from you Pups, no apologies needed! 😊😘



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The person suspected of having the evil eye may be a stranger or someone who is different in some way from the rest of the community.

A great cinematical treatise of this is The Wailing.

In Cyprus and Greece they still sell medallions and bracelets that protect one from the 'evil eye'.

And there's more stuff like that, like the one @ruth-girl documents in this post.

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