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Chapter 9: Health and illness

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The societal conditions of health

The following videos explain the key terms and issues related to understanding health as a societal or structural issue. While individuals can usually do things to improve their health, these resources all demonstrate that health is about much more than individual lifestyle choices.

Global Hands - Social Determinants of Health

Discussion questions:

• What are the social determinants of health? Can you think of examples?
• What is the social gradient? How does this eventuate?
• Why are issues such as stress and poverty such a concern for people’s health?
• How might social psychologists be able to improve the social determinants of health?

Health Inequalities - Social Determinants of Health Film (Glasgow)

Discussion questions:

• Why is it important for social psychologists to consider the broader aspects of health?
• What did you think about the use of a photo project as a way for residents to record their experiences of their urban environment?
• How might the photos taken by residents be of use for city planners?
• What might be the implications of neglected urban places for mental health?

Impacts of violence on human wellbeing

The following videos focus on violence and how it harms people. While most of us associate violence with deliberate physical harm towards others, there are many other kinds of violence that impact on people’s health and wellbeing. In particular, the notion of structural violence is significant in relation to health as it explains how the life circumstances of certain groups are harmful to their health.

Structural Violence

Direct, structural, and cultural violence

Discussion questions:

• What might some of the impacts be of direct, cultural and structural violence on the health of diverse groups of people in contemporary societies such as the US and UK?
• In many societies today, there is a lot of emphasis on individual health. What are your thoughts on the tendency in contemporary societies to assume that personal lifestyle factors are the main causes of ill-health?