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Introduction to Socio_Cultural Variation in health
Ass.Prof:Dr:Essmat Gemaey
Objectives
After completion of this lecture the students
should be able to:
1-Mention definition of culture and related
concepts
2-Discuss the problem of ethnocentric
attitudes
3-Discuss how culture influences a client’s
behavior in health and in illness.
Out lines
-Introduction
-some definitions
- Characteristics of culture
-Sub-culture
This lecture assists nurses to
understand how culture influences a
client’s behavior in health and in
illness.
When nurses view clients through a
cultural lens, they can both expand
culture awareness and provide
culturally congruent service
Definition of Culture
- Refers to the beliefes, values, and
behavior that are shared by members of
a society and provide a design or map
for living .
- It is a culture that tells people what is
acceptable or unacceptable Also it is the
integration of human behaviors (which
include thoughts, communications,
actions, customs, beliefs, values, and
institutions) of a racial, ethnic, religious,
or social group
WHAT IS CULTURE ?
􀂙 It's the shared beliefs, values, attitudes
and behavior patterns that characterize the
members of a community or organization.
Ethnocentrism
Is the belief that one’s own cultural
practices and values are inherently
correct or superior to those of others?
Ethnocentric attitudes can lead
to the following problems
1-Prejudice Negative preconceived opinions about Other people or groups based on hearsay,
perception, or emotion
2-Stereotyping •
Believing that one member of a cultural
group will display certain behaviors or
hold certain attitudes (usually negative)
simply because he or she is a member
of that cultural group
3-Discrimination—Differential
treatment based on race, class,
sex, or other variables rather than
on individual merit
4-Stigmatization—the attribution of negative
characteristics or identity to one person or
group, causing the person or group to feel
rejected and, alienated, from society
CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
1-Culture Is Learned
Patterns of cultural behavior are
acquired, not inherited. The way
people dress, what they eat, how
they talk—all are learned.
-Culture Is Integrated
As in any system, all parts of a
culture are interrelated and
interdependent.
The various components of a
culture, such as its social mores
or religious beliefs, perform
separate functions, coming in
relative harmony with each
other to form an operating and
cohesive whole
3 -Culture is shared
Culture is the product of total
behavior, not individual habit.
Certainly, individuals practice a
culture,
Culture does not depend on
individuals an ordinary habit dies
with its possessor,
Culture is mostly tacit
Culture provides a guide for human interaction
that is mostly unexpressed and at the
unconscious level, or tacit. Members of a
cultural group, without the need for
discussion, know how to act and what to
”expect from one another.
. Culture teaches the proper tone of voice to use
for each occasion. It prescribes how close to
stand when talking with someone or how to
respond to elders. They know what is right
and wrong.
Culture is dynamic
Every culture undergoes change; none is
entirely static.
Within every cultural group are individuals
who generate innovations.
. Each culture, including our own, is a
mixtures of ideas, values, and practices
from a variety of sources. This process
depends on the extent of exposure to
other groups. Nonetheless, every culture
is in a dynamic state of adding or
deleting components.
Sub — Cultures
It refer to a smaller group within a larger cultural groupthat has its own particular set of cultural values, beliefs
and practices.
A subculture is usually composed of people who have a
distinct identity and yet are also related to a larger
cultural group
exampleA family member who practices a different
religious faith than others in the family may be as
uniquely different from other family members as she
or he is like them
Acculturation
 acculturation is the process or
incorporating values, beliefs, and
behaviors from the host culture into
the immigrants' cultural worldview
 Cultural Relativism
Judging and interpreting the behavior and
belief of others in terms of their traditions
and experiences
.Cultural Self-Awareness :
Understanding the assumptions and values
upon which one's own behavior and
worldview rests. The appreciation and
acceptance of differences
 Ethnicity
A group identity based on culture, language,
religion, or a common attachment to a place or
kin ties. Ethnicity is a relational concept .
 Power :
The ability to produce intended effects on
oneself, on other people, and on things or
situations .
 Race :
A biological term classifying people who have
the same physical characteristics .
 Racism :
The belief that some human population
groups are inherently superior or inferior to
others because of genetically transmitted
characteristics .
 Social Stratification :
The division of members of a society into
strata (or levels) with an unequal access to
wealth, prestige, power, opportunity, and
other valued resources .
WHAT ARE VALUES ?
􀂙 They are our basic beliefs about what
is
right, good, true, correct, desirable,
moral,
and so on.
􀂙 All of us behave in ways that are
consistent
with our values.
what is Norms
They are expected behavior.
They provide rules about standards of
appropriate behavior in particular
situations.
Norms flow from cultural values about
what is important in various
situations
Beliefs
It is conviction based on information
held by people for whish no socially
.acceptable means of validity exist
-It is a conviction that is mentally
accepted as true whether or not it
based on fact
Tradition
Ancient etho —- cultural — religious,
beliefs and practices handed down
through generations
Taboo
They are illegal act and thoughts to
avoid actual or potential harm to self
.and others
Do it for a better
tomorrow