Disease in Culture - Research Paper Example

of the of the The Disease in Culture Research Paper Introduction Disease may have many thematic representations when analyzed and viewed from the contexts of culture. There are various dimensions within the concept and outcomes of a disease which makes the people associate it with or perceive it as distinct phenomena as per the cultural constructs and orientations. Different themes of disease in the cultural context can be identified and reviewed through the consideration of human behavioral aspects, theories in health science and medicine and the perceptions and views of disease in different parts of the world. This research paper is prepared in the domain of health science and medicine and deals with the review of disease in a cultural context. A key theme regarding the contagious feel of diseases and the quarantine disease prevention processes area accepted by the entities in the cultural construct. For the purpose of the study, a cultural context relevant to the selected theme is chosen. The selected cultural context for the paper is a video game named as the Dead Island 2. This video game is the sequel of the video game Dead Island released in 2011 and belongs to the Dead Island series of survival video games. Discussion The contents and format of this video game can be used in the cultural context to analyses the role of disease in a socio cultural domain. This video game is based on the kuru epidemic disease which has continued to affect the people of Papua, New Guinea in a massively spread manner since decades. This video game represents the features of the kuru disease by displaying a sub type version of this disease which is based on the neuro genetic problems in human beings. This disease is a contagious and incurable disease which makes the people much conscious towards the transitive and contagious characteristics of the disease and thus, the occurrence of the kuru disease in a human being often results in the other people of the society to make the infected person isolated from the rest of the society (Slimbach, 2010, p.90). It should be understood in this respect what the terms “health” and “disease” actually denote. Health is defined as a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being of an individual and not merely the non-presence of any kind of infirmity or disease. Disease can be defined as the abnormalities that are identified in the functions and/or structure of the body systems and organs. The Dead Island 2 video game shows a video game representation of the Kuru disease which is common type of epidemic disease among the people residing in the islands of the Papua, New Guinea. Kuru is an untreatable and fatal disease of nervous system and brain which is commonly found among the people of some islands in Papua, New Guinea. The disease is culture and region specific and is one of the most clearly identified culture bound syndromes in the world. This disease has limited distribution in terms of geographical location because it is caused by a distinct and unique combination of the cultural practices and environmental circumstances existent in the islands of Papua, New Guinea. The contagious nature of the kuru disease makes it a threat for the population in which it is found. As such, it can be noted that a high level of judgmental behavior is displayed by the society in which this disease is identified. Since, the disease is widely passed from one person to another and spreads at a rapid rate due to the contagiousness; therefore, this is also believed to be one of the major drivers of the zombie outbreak in the islands of Papua, New Guinea. The susceptibility factors and the contagious nature of the Kuru disease is a prime reflection of the disease as a judgment in a cultural context which is the selected theme for this research work (Collinge, Whitfield and McKintosh, 2007, pp. 2068-2074). The disease being also highly transmissive and incurable in nature , acts as major source of intense threat and insecurity among the people of a society or region for their mental and physical health and well-being. The degenerative epidemic disease being incurable in nature makes it normal for the people display higher levels of fear and concern regarding the spread of it. The disease also affects both the mental and physical states of the infected persons. These kinds of outcomes of the disease makes the people behave more judgmentally and consciously towards the disease. The concept of mutation and quarantining of the people for preventing this disease actually creates a barrier to the provision of cure for the diseases. These kinds of resistances are viewed as a part of the theme of diseases as a judgmental and freedom curbing aspect in a social and cultural context (Toale and McCroskey, 2009, pp.70-83). Disease in this respect is perceived as a judgmental phenomenon and cultural barrier because of which the people who may be susceptible to the disease react to the disease in a restrictive manner and show intensified levels of resistance to the epidemic disease prevention techniques like quarantine and mutating processes as well. The fear of contagion is clearly noticeable in this cultural context and it is also seen that a high degree of intolerance regarding the quarantining and mutating processes as the disease prevention techniques are also visible among the population . The isolation of the infected individuals also reflects the concept of how disease is perceived as a judgment in the social and cultural contexts. Social conformity is important in the aspect of defining and explaining disease as a judgment and to analyses the resistances displayed by the individuals in a society towards the prevention and treatment of the disease (Philos, 2013, pp.128-148). The psychological aspects of a human being are a major determinant of the way he or she perceives diseases and their cure and prevention. Thus, these factors also play a crucial role in the way the mental and physical health of the people are managed and maintained in a society. The cultural relativism and existing cultural contexts also affect the way disease, disease prevention; treatments and cure are perceived, accepted and assimilated within a society. The different kinds of resistances displayed by the people often act as a major barrier in the way of promoting heath care and disease prevention initiatives (Launer, 2003, pp. 875–876). This is a result of the view of disease as a judgment in the cultural aspect. Various theories related to health behavior changes of a person in a socio cultural construct can be used to prepare the people for accepting disease as a phenomena rather than showing a defensive, fearful and judgmental behavior towards disease and diseased people. Thus, these theories are necessary for removing the judgmental perception associated with disease as studied from the cultural perspective and context. The Trans theoretical model for explaining human behavioral changes can be suitably utilized in the cases when disease is taken as a judgment in the perceptions of the people in the society. This model can be used in heath science and medicine field for preparing an individual for accepting the disease conditions and also to use the disease prevention and control mechanisms by reducing the resistances of these individuals towards the diseases. Figure 1: Trans-Theoretical Model of human behavioral changes related to acceptance (Source: Porta, 2008, p.110) The socio ethnological model of disease prevention and control can also be applicable in the selected case. This is because it can be clearly identified that disease is seen as a negative aspect according to the judgment of the people in the society. So, in order to ensure better outcomes of health and health care promotion initiatives, the views and cultural aspects that are engraved in the psychological perspectives of the people should be analyzed with respect to the existing communities, families and cultures. Then the healthcare initiatives should be promoted through the emphasis given on the relationships between the biological, behavioral and environmental determinants of health and diseases. These kinds of mechanisms can help to make the entities in a region aware of the community rescuers and can also make them willing to access the medical aids, disease prevention and curative treatments for any kind of disease including the Kuru disease discussed in this research. These strategies can also help to lower the resistances and defense created by the people in a region with respect to the adoption of health related practices and the development of a healthy society. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded and summarized that disease as a judgment in the cultural context encompasses various socially integrated beliefs and attitudes including the resistances and inhibitions related to the different types of diseases. The fears and insecurities of people are often intensified in the cases in which the diseases are incurable, epidemic and fatal in nature. The phenomena of disease as a judgment and restrictive concept in the cultural context can be well established by the analysis of the case of kuru disease in Papua, New Guinea and its representation in the cultural content of the selected video game, Dead Island 2. Works cited Collinge, James., John Whitfield. & Elma McKintosh. "Kuru in the 21st century—an acquired human prion disease with very long incubation periods". Lancet 36. 7 (2007): 2068–2074. Print. Launer, John. "Folk illness and medical models". Quarterly Journal of Medicines 96. 11 (2003): 875–876. Print. Philos, Med. “Psychiatric Judgments across Cultural Contexts: Relativist, Clinical-Ethnographic, and Universalist-Scientific Perspectives”. Journal of Medical philosophy 38.2. (2013): 128-148. Print. Porta, Miguel. Behavioral epidemic: A Dictionary of Epidemiology (5th Ed.). Oxford University Press. 2008. Print. Slimbach, Richard. Becoming world wise - a guide to global learning (1st Ed.). Sterling, Virginia: Stylus Publishing, LLC. 2010. Print. Toale, Michael & Joshua Charles McCroskey. “Ethnocentrism and trait communication apprehension as predictors of interethnic communication apprehension and use of relational maintenance strategies in interethnic communication”. Communication Quarterly 49. 1 (2009), 70-83. Print. Read More