The Concepts of Health Behavior and Social Society - Essay Example

?Defining Health Inequalities The changes in health have altered the way in which many have approached the care which they receive and the alterations which are made with the role of health. The concept of health inequalities has become a frequent problem among those that are working in the health sector as well as those which require specific care. Defining the health inequalities and how this associates with specific needs is one of the current trends which are associated with the current complexities. Understanding the components of these and developing an alternative approach toward the health inequalities is then able to build and develop a different consensus and understanding of what is required to begin changing health inequalities and the complexities which are associated with this. Examining how health inequalities are affecting various health issues then provides deeper insight into ways to begin to combat and change the approaches with the health care system. The definition of health inequalities is one which expands into complex behaviors that are linked to care and assistance. Health inequalities are also often referred to as equity that is a part of the health care system. The ethical concepts are based on who is able to receive care and the financial and economic basis which is associated with this. Health inequalities begin with individuals that do not have the ability to afford health care services and specific needs are not developed because of the expected financial plans. The health care system moves into a lack of accountability for individuals that require help while creating differences with health needs and approaches. The influences that are a part of the health inequalities are inclusive to divisions in advantaged social groups, including position, wealth, power and prestige. This creates a hierarchy which allows one to receive a specific type of health care and to create and develop alternative pursuits which are associated with different health disparities. The creation of different advantages for specific groups while causing others to not have access to needed health care is the main complexity related to health equity and health inequalities (Braveman, 2005). The health inequalities associated with the wealth, power and prestige which one holds further divides by other hierarchies which are in society. The specific link is based on the health literacy that is used with those who require specific health outcomes. The lack of health literacy to some causes a lack of availability of resources and components which are required within the system. This creates a different exhibition of the healthcare system, leading to complex and integrated systems. As the systems continue to develop, individuals are linked to barriers because of the amount of literacy which is a part of the hierarchy. It is believed that the lack of information available and the resources which are only associated with those who have a specific social status is also one which creates a sense of injustice and a lack of ethical opportunity for those that are in need of the correct health care system. Finding developments for communication and accounting for the information available is one of the only resources which are available with those who are facing the health inequalities through the illiteracy that is associated with social status (Volandes, Orlow, 2007). Not only are there basic foundations with the information, education and the ethical components related to health care. Currently, there is a stigma in society which links to the amount of health care that is available according social status. The resources available to the social status are followed by the social determinants that are continuing to lead some to better health while others are unable to find the right approach to having the necessary health care. The result is that the age of life expectancy, health conditions one faces and the issues which one faces continues to change. This is based on the wealth and power which a social group has as well as the location which one is in, specifically which offers more health care or cuts off a social group from having the correct care available. The challenge which is associated with this becomes dependent on the social determinants that offers access to the health care system (Marmot, 2005). Role of Health Psychology The different components linked to health inequalities are furthered with differences, such as in health psychology. This develops different factors and influences which are a part of the psychological system. The role of health psychology is one which further develops with the socioeconomic status of different individuals and the expectations which are linked to psychology. The common problem is based on the psychological developments being used as an alternative medicine. There are many which are unable to afford the services or components which are associated with health psychology. The social status then links to the ability to receive psychological help, specifically because of the acceptance of this role as a part of the health system. The inability for insurance and financial systems to support psychological assistance and the outcomes which are unable to create the necessary relationships with the health care system further the injustices to specific groups and create complexities with individuals receiving the correct help (Demakakos, et al, 2008). The complexities with the role of health psychology come from many which believe that there is a cultural affiliation with the medical programs, as opposed to the capabilities of assisting with better mental health. The cultural affiliation is based on several which are expected to receive the correct help because of social status and the ability to maintain power. However, mental disorders and other difficulties among other groups of people don’t lead to psychological help and assistance that is a part of the different developments. The cultural affiliations are based on belief systems about psychology among different groups of individuals, links to socioeconomic status with these beliefs and the hierarchical positions and perceptions that lead to specific disadvantages among those with specific interests. The cultural developments lead more to the material and individualistic approach which is a part of the culture. The role of health psychology then develops into a fad which is associated with socioeconomic status and the hierarchy which many are a part of. This immediately leads into injustices that are a part of the psychological programs and development (Eckersley, 2006). Self – Presentation Motives to Health The motives to health that is associated with the socioeconomic status move into other psychological components which often affect the way in which one works toward health care. While health is noted as a main approach and development to those who need assistance, there are other levels of beliefs associated with health care. There are many motives that are based on receiving health care and the approaches to health care which one decides to develop. This begins with the identity construction which is created among those that are working with the health care and the approaches which this takes. The identity construction then leads to the development of concepts such as self- esteem and status within society. The type of health care which one receives directly effects the self definition and presentation which one has toward their own health and well – being. The approach is one which is based specifically on creating an identity of how healthy one is, the status which they hold toward others and the level of care they have for themselves. Using psychologists, doctors and alternative therapies allows one to hold a specific identity within society. The result is a socioeconomic status that leads to development of identity and self – esteem which one has toward others (Vignoles et al, 2006). The concept of creating a specific self image is one which moves beyond the health help which one receives and the way in which one cares for themselves. This also leads to concepts such as the self – determination theory and how this links to the help which one receives. One creates a specific status within society that defines the image of the self and how one believes in themselves. Self – determination theory furthers this with body image concerns and the perceptions which one holds toward themselves. The health care is based not only medical or psychological care which one decides to receive. Staying fit, working with aerobics and developing a sense of socialization based on the health image which one carries is able to create and develop the different self image perceptions and the physique which one holds. The motivational forces which are based and developed from this are created with regulations with self – determination as well as the self – motivation based on the social stigma and efforts which are surrounding others in society (Ntoumani, 2007). The Right to Health The social stigma, hierarchy which leads to inequalities and perceptions of different formats of health has led to complexities with the current health system. There are many which believe that there is the need to have a higher standard for health and which are creating demands over the right to health. The social stigma which is presented from individual intent to the social status which one holds shows that there is not the ability to access health if belonging to a specific category with health. The need to have human rights communities develop and create solutions is an approach which is being used, specifically with the belief that every human should have the right to health care and development. The ability to have health and well – being as a standard for life is creating changes with the policies and development among many while trying to find solutions to offer health not only to those within a social hierarchy, but also to others that are related to the human rights offering health care to all (Hunt, 2006). The right to health is one which consists of a variety of levels of each individual being able to access the same health care. The first is preventative measures that are used among those which require a right to health. This is based on each individual having access to extra measures, not only with the current social stigma, but also with the development of more opportunities for every individual to have access to the same health care systems. The second measure is based on those who need assistance, such as through psychologists or basic medical care. Offering this to each individual and ensuring the right to health care for basic mental and physical health is one which can dramatically assist one with quality of life. The third area of interest is based on the economic and social status for the different formats of health needs. Doctor visits, care for disease and surgeries are some of the common denominators which are currently not completely available to those who are a part of the health care system. The need to have intervention methods as well as options for prevention is some of the areas in which the right to health needs to become more consistent (Munson, 2004). Usefulness of Planned Behavior to Health Psychologists The need to have planned behavior and alternatives for health psychologists is one which can begin to alter the levels of inequality which are within the system. Currently, the basis of norm information and planned behavior intertwine to create specific expectations among health psychologists. The planned behavior is one which can be used with health psychologists to begin to move into treatment of others which require more assistance and which need to move out of the status quo and levels of injustice which are in society. Looking at social trends, behavioral responses and the influences which are a part of norm information allows the right individuals and groups to begin to receive assistance and to understand the need for assistance. The understanding of social cognition and the approach which can be used for health psychologists for the necessary behaviors is then able to develop a deeper understanding into the necessary conclusions of how to help different social groups. Creating new fads, developing social justices with the needed health care and examining the social structures can all help health psychologists to begin to alter the approaches needed for offering proper health care to all social groups (Marks, 2008). The concept of planned behavior and health psychology is deepened not only with understanding social groups. Health psychologists can make determinations of inequalities which one is facing and other issues and problems which arise, specifically by the behavior which one has. Body language, development of different ideologies, relating to the health system and other approaches allow health psychologists to have an understanding of the health availability to an individual or specific group. There are also planned behaviors that are seen with the intervention which one may take, specifically with responding to illness and disease while taking necessary measures with the illness. Problem solving processes are then available at the institutional level, specifically which link to the way in which one works with the planned behavior. The result is the ability to have cognitive behavioral interventions that are used when examining self – management and the relationship to the system that one has. Health psychologists can use the behaviors to notate what an individual needs in terms of health care as well as how this relates to the social and individual context which one is under (Leventhal et al, 2008). Social Norms in Health Related Behavior The applications which are associated with health regulations and meeting the behavioral norms and information furthers with understanding social norms. The behaviors which are currently associated with society are developed specifically because of the approaches of expectations and how one responds to the environment. It is noted that obesity, activities and other health behaviors become a mediator toward one’s health and the associations which they have in society toward their development and growth. This is combined with the social environment beginning to influence new trends and expectations among other social hierarchies and groups as well as the approaches which are taken to those who are within the social groups. The role which is created is based on the participation of specific groups within the social norms as well as the concepts which are expected to influence societal roles. This then leads to different developments and associations which are created with mediating the behaviors and associations with social norms (Poortinga, 2006). The social norms in health related behavior not only create links with the health status and social groups. There is also the ability to offer and influence different areas of assistance with the health related behavior by looking at the social norms. This begins with constructing programs, ideologies and developments which are associated with the program and development. The social norms continue with implementation of the trends within society to begin changing the expectations of individuals within society, specifically among segments of groups that are a part of this. The destructive associations are also a part of this, specifically because of the development of social norms and developments that are created from this. There are also reconstructive powers which are available as well as different associations with how this is developed. The reconstructive powers then link to the misuse and campaigns which are created in terms of the social norms. The result is the ability to develop life cycles with health associations and the creations which are related to this. Conclusion The concepts of health behavior are directly linked to social society and the responses which are given by segmented groups of individuals. Health inequality is currently defined as one which is linked directly to the social stigmas and hierarchies within society and the relationship which this holds with others. The health behavior then links to the way in which segments associate with health care in terms of knowledge and behavior patterns. For alternative therapies, psychology and other components within the health system, is a set of injustices which begin because of the social trends which occur. To alter this is the need to develop and understand social behaviors and responses within society. Continuing this with understanding social norms and how this can be developed to understand behaviors toward health allows different approaches to health. Not only is there an approach with the health inequality but also an understanding that the response is the need to develop a different set of developments based on the social association of norm information and planned behaviors. References Braveman, Paul. (2005). “Health Disparities and Health Equity: Concepts and Measurement.” Annual Review of Public Health (27). Burger, Jerry, Christina LaSalvia, Lauren Hendricks, Tara Mehdipour, Elise Neudeck. (2011). “Partying Before the Party Gets Started: the Effects of Descriptive Norms on Pregaming Behavior.” Basic and Applied Social Psychology 33 (3). Demakakos, Panayotes, James Nazroo, Elizabeth Breeze, Michael Marmot. 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