Biomedical modle of health

Essay is attached (biomedical model of health). Written assignment task description: Biomedical models of health Describe the biomedical model of health, identify 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of the model Describe how having a sociological imagination could change how we view health & wellbeing- use the 2 references provided for this content (see below) Identify how the views of health you have presented relate to your personal views of health       2 References   Giddens, A., & Sutton, P.W. (2013). Sociology. Cambridge, UK: Polity McLennan, G., McManus, R., & Spoonley, P. (2010). Exploring Society. Pearson: Auckland, NZ Essay structure for this : 1 paragraph: Intro to biomedica model 2 paragraph :  3 Advantages of the biomedical model of health 3 paragraph : 3  Disadvantages  of the biomedical model of health 4 paragraph : introduction to socialogical imagination 5 paragraph : Different ways of looking at health(  2-3 examples ) 6 paragraph: How i view health These documents was given in class: Bit about biomedical modle of health The way in which health has been socially and culturally defined transforms not only through space, but also through time. We see this in the contrast between the images above, which expose the different ways society has conceptualised and approached health over time. The image on the left shows an ancient practice called trepanning, a surgical procedure where holes were drilled into a person who was behaving in what was considered an abnormal way to let out what were believed to be evil spirits. The image on the right shows a doctor in a lab conducting medical research, which might help cure illness. In the past, people’s understanding of health and approaches to eradicating illness and disease were embedded in ritual, superstition and religion. To be ‘healthy’ was associated with being free of disease and illness, while the onset of disease and illness were rooted in beliefs around deviance, evil and sin (Giddens, 2013). One of the most significant features of health in non-traditional modern societies is the rise of the biomedical health model which has dominated Western health discourse for around 200 years and has had a profound impact on the way we experience and define health today (Giddens, 2013). What do we mean when we talk about ‘discourse’? When sociologists refer to discourse they are referring to a method of communication adopted by a group of people (Ritzer, 2010). The discourse of a particular social group creates solidarity and marks a particular group, their identity and way of operating in the world (Ritzer, 2010). In the context of traditional and nontraditional cultures, for instance, we see a shift in discourses of certainty, superstition and religion towards discourses of analysis, rationalisation and science.  Applying the sociological imagination Everyday we make decisions that impact on our health. Whether it’s working overtime at a job, visiting the doctor, eating breakfast, or drinking alcohol. More often than not, these activities are taken for granted and we don’t think about their wider context. Sociology encourages us to do the exact opposite; to take seemingly mundane routines, think outside our immediate experience and to view them in a wider social context. This is called applying the sociological imagination: being able to explore the relationship between our daily actions and decisions as individuals and wider social contexts of the world we live in. In class you will practise applying the sociological imagination to an everyday event or routine that relates to health. Defining Health  We now shift from our personal understandings of health to look at how health can be historically, culturally and socially defined. How has health been defined in the past compared with today? In the past, certain diseases have been viewed as punishment for bad behaviour. Mental illness has been particularly poorly understood. Some conditions still hold a social stigma today e.g. sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV/AIDS. How does the society we live in define health and how is health defined globally? The activity Defining Health, will help you unpack these questions in more detail.

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