SOC100 - lecture 10 Health and Mental Health

globalization

the growing economic, political and social interconnectedness among societies throughout the world

* erases boundaries across the world

what is the impact of globalization on health?

there is a greater risk for communicable diseases being spread across regions because of increased travel

what is the impact of globalization on the government?

it reduces their power to tax corporations and the wealthy

* causes race to the bottom
* harder to pay for healthcare

how has globalization affect workers in poor countries?

it reduces their working conditions due to increase in competition

* encourages practices that harm health in order to save money

why did free health care start in canada?

because of the strong belief of meritocracy in Saskatchewan and that farming life doesn’t fit meritocracy because it is dependent on weather rather than hard work

what is the argument for privatized healthcare?

decreasing tax revenue and the cost of free healthcare rising

what is the only developed country without free healthcare?

the US

what does the data on US healthcare show?

* it has the highest spending on healthcare among developed countries despite the privatized system

how does US healthcare quality compare to canadian healthcare

it is way worse

why is US healthcare more expensive?

* because insurance companies profit off healthcare but government provided healthcare in other countries are non profit
* subject to supply and demand

what are the two ways that consumers lack power in a healthcare free market?

* time
* valuation

mental health

successful performance of mental function resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity

mental illness

all mental disorders characterized by sustained patterns of abnormal thinking, mood or behaviors accompanied by significant distress and/or impairment in daily functioning

what are the 3 challenges when trying to understand the mental health epidemic?

* it is socially defined
* tied to culture
* strongly tied to conceptions of morality

dramaturgical perspective

* defined by Goffman

describes that people are actors in the way that they follow norms in the form of roles, scripts or props to know how to behave and represent themselves in society

front stage

the self that we show the world

backstage

our true selves that we reserve for private areas or places where we are comfortable

what are the 3 reasons people are fearful of the mentally ill?

* those with mental illness are less likely to follow norms
* many that suffer from mental illness end up in prison
* we associate almost all illegitimate violence with mental illness

who holds corporations responsible?

* the government
* consumers
* justice/court system

spurious

when a causal argument is found to be false

drug

any chemical substance that has a direct effect on the user’s physical, psychological and/or intellectual functioning

* has the potential to be abused
* has adverse consequences for the individual and/or society

framing

how something is socially constructed or how society is taught to view a certain thing

drug abuse

when typical standards are violated and the user experiences adverse physiological, psychological or social consequences

criminalization of drugs

* make drugs illegal for the social good or benefit of society. Punish those who break the law as criminals

legalization of drugs

make drugs legal, sell and tax them. It is an individual choice that should only be subject to individual responsibility

harm reduction/medical model

do not make drugs legal or make them easier to access but treat them as a medical instead of a legal issue

what is the structural functionalist perspective on drugs?

* drug abuse is a result of weakening social norms
* result of institutions not working properly

how do structural functionalists see the drug legalization debate?

* drugs allow people to blow off steam and deal with loss
* criminalizing them is costly and harmful to users
* will be more dangerous cause they’ll be made by criminals

how do structural functionalists see the drug criminalization debate?

* drugs dysfunctional to people
* helps law enforcement get criminals
* dysfunctional for society

what is the conflict theorist perspective on drugs?

* drugs are an escape from inequality and alienation
* powerful members of society influence legal definition of drug use
* war on drugs is a war on poverty

how do conflict theorists view debate on drug legalization?

* drugs like weed are a natural remedy to pain which threatens pharmaceutical companies
* control over schools lets authority set drug agenda
* allows the rich to control the poor through possession sentences

what is the symbolic interactionist perspective on drugs?

* drug addict label internalized by those that it applies to and use increases as a result
* drug use to relate with other people and learn proper use to have positive experiences

gateway drug theory

weed is a gateway drug to other drugs neglects role of framing and social construction in making it a gateway drug

how do symbolic interactionists view debate on drug legalization?

labels drug users criminals turning them into criminals by putting them in prison and connecting them to other criminals

making weed illegal trivializes dangers of harder drugs

what are the 3 signs of addiction according to neuroscience?

* binge and intoxication
* withdrawal and negative affect
* anticipation and craving