Health Psychology- Homework 2

Reading Log 1 (word count limit: 750 words)

References:
1. Palmer, P., Kim, J.Y., Kleinman, A., Basilico, M., 2013. Reimagining global health.
An introduction. Preface- pp.32.
2. Scharmer, O., 2007.Theory U: Leading from the future as it emerges.
3. Bend the Arc. Film.

A. Readings. Palmer, P, et al. Reimagining Global Health

Preface.
1. What is the problem of dividing the world in 3 when it comes to health delivery? Xiv
- discussions of equity and justice occurred but in a peculiarly parochial manner.
-
2. What do the authors mean by global health attitudes? P.xv
- It is a way of looking at the world. It is about the universal nature of our human
predicament. It is a statement about our commitment to health as a fundamental quality of
liberty and equity.

Chapter 1
3. a. What is the definition of health according to the World Health Organization? page
9
- The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of physical, mental, and
social well-being.

b. “.. Can any definition capture the subjective experiences of individuals in

different settings around the globe? Beyond the direct experiences of individuals,
… and forces that drive up the risk of ill health for some while sparing others.
 Some called this structural violence. Such social forces become embodied as
health and disease among individuals” page 9
- Public health focuses on the health of populations, while medicine focuses on the health
of individuals. But in reifying the distinctions between them, we risk perpetuating
unhelpful visual field defects in both professions.

c. Cite an example of structural violence impacting health during COVID-19 from

your own context.
- Lack of quality health care because of surge in hospital admissions. It led to a structural
violence because social, political, and economic forces affects the policies, executions,
and health care in the Philippines especially because we are not ready about it.

Chapter 2
4. a. What is Max’ Weber’s definition of sociology? Page, 16.
- Sociology as “the science whose object it is to interpret the meaning of social action and
thereby give a causal explanation of the way in which this action proceeds and the effect
which it produces
b. Cite a theory in psychology from your previous classes that concurs Weber’s
definition of meaning.
- Interdependence theory describes the structural properties that characterize interactions
and the implications of such structure for human psychology. Interdependence theory
presents a formal analysis of the abstract properties of social situations.

d. Explain a COVID-19 health phenomenon from Max Weber’s view.

The epidemic at Covid-19 is today's most serious economic and public health problem. It seemed
that it was inconceivable: borders were shut down, countries locked down, and people socially
separated for the general benefit. We observe humanitarian actions around the world as mutual
support groups help when necessary. Welfare reform, gradual taxation, nationalization and
universal basic income now seem to be more politically appreciable. Some believe even that
fascism will imminently disappear.

5. a. What is Berger and Lockman’s description of Social Construction of Reality, page

18.
- whatever passes for knowledge in a society, regard- less of the ultimate validity or
invalidity (by whatever criteria) of such ‘knowledge.
b. Cite one example of a social construction of reality from the current pandemic.
People interpret Covid-19 patients with negative stigma and the community’s social
construction process on Covid-19 patients. Negative stigma labelled against Covid-19 patients
and health workers can worsen Covid-19 management situation.

c. What is institutionalization applied to health delivery? p 19.

- The arbitrary process of medicalization, whereby subjective experiences are redefined as
disease—such as remaking war trauma into post-traumatic stress disorder, or severe cases
of premenstrual syndrome into premenstrual dysphoric disorder—illustrates the social
construction of knowledge and the institutionalization of medical norms

6. a. What is unanticipated consequences of purposive action according to Robert

Merton’s Theory? Page 20
- Robert Merton’s theory about the unanticipated consequences of purposive social action
offers insight into this phenomenon.
b. Cite one example in the current Philippine Govt’s management of C-19.
- Strategies in the control of an outbreak are screening, containment (or suppression),
and mitigation.

d. Share one example of bureaucratic rationality

- Knowledge of professionals especially experts on specific fielf.

7. a. Define Michael Foucault’s Biopower, p. 26.

 - Michel Foucault seeks to explain how biologic and medical data are used by the
institutions of the modern world to define, count, divide, and—in a word—discipline
populations. Biopower is another important addition to our theoretical toolkit for global
health.

b. Do you agree that Tokhang was a form of biopower? Explain your arguments.
- Yes I agree because government is using their power to mitigate and control the use of illegal
drugs.

c. What are the advantages/disadvantages of Philippine ID System in the light of

biological citizenship construct y Adriana Petryna? P. 29.
Advantages
- More Efficient Government Transactions
- Easier Access to Financial Services
- Easier to Get a Senior Citizen Discount
- Protection from Fraud

Disadvantage
- A national ID card system wouldn't solve the problem that is inspiring it.
- An ID card system will lead to a slippery slope of surveillance and monitoring of
citizens.
- ID cards would function as internal passports that would allow the government to
monitor citizens' movements.
- ID cards would foster new forms of discrimination and harassment.

8. a. What is Arthur Kleinmans’s Social Suffering , p. 30?

- The term social suffering to account for the forms of social violence that constitute
inequity. Social suffering results from what political, economic, and institutional power
does to people and, reciprocally, from how these forms of power themselves influence
responses to social problems.
 Bend the Arc: Movie
9. a. What was emotionally provoking for you in the movie?
The film highlights geopolitical reality, the medical problems and challenges faced by
physicians in those places and the route of PIH's ability building and strengthening of
health systems. It is an exciting film and an unbelievable educational tool that anybody
wanting a greater understanding of the difficult cultural, economic and political
challenges that PIH needs to face so as to establish durable systems of health that are
most desperately required.

b. What role did Paul’s friend play from his formation as a doctor to his being the
agent of transformation in communities around the world?
- they have the same reasons for why health care that is worthy and quality cannot be
provided to poor areas since they launched PIH and continue to combat these
hypotheses. They agree that inaction has fatal repercussions, therefore they continue
to cure, advise, heal and defend the least disadvantaged without prejudice which is a
very noble cause.

Article. Theory U
10. a. Summarize the elements of the theory in three sentences.
- A framework for seeing the blind spots of leadership and systems change. A method
for implementing awareness-based change: process, principles, practices. A new
narrative for evolutionary societal change: updating our mental and institutional
operating systems (OS) in all of society’s sectors.

b. Cite an example on how you might apply one of the stages of the theory in your
mental health delivery project.
- It aims to give references in order to distinguish individuals from their usual way of
thinking. It discusses how a person may contribute to potential solutions that are in
keeping with the demands of society. Example is the mental health problems, this helps
the professor to thought of concepts that helps people get away of their usual thoughts…
B. Critic Paper.
C. PROPOSED HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Instructions
The questions for Sessions 1 to 9’s ongoing project submissions are contained in this
template. Your are required to work in the same document through the course, so be sure
you save this document where you can access it again next week. For example, when you
submit your Session 2 ongoing project response, this document will contain both Session
and Session 2’s responses.
In each session that contains on ongoing project submission, you will be prompted to
completed the relevant sections. You are not expected to work ahead.
You will complete Session 10’s ongoing project submission in a separate template, which
will be made available in Session 9. This submission will require you to integrate all the
preceding submissions into a proposal for a mental health care intervention for
implementation in a particular context.

Module 1: Introduction to the BioSocial Factors of Health

Identify a describe a specific interaction between biological factors and social factors
(biosocial) based on Chapters 1 and 2 explored in the book. Then identify and discuss a
biosocial interaction which underlies a mental health challenge in your own context or
another context that you would like to explore further. For example, what social factors
influence who is at risk for suicide among college students in Davao city and how can
treatment be accessed?
At this stage, you not be writing about an intervention. Rather, focus on describing how a
biosocial interaction either increases someone’s risk for psychopathology or makes it
more difficult for them to receive care. (300-400 words)
Start writing here: