The Social Psychology of Health

Introduction From the olden days of human evolution, people have faced different challenges in the society. Nations encounter various challenges that directly or indirectly affect the economic standards of a country. These challenges vary from one individual to another and from one country to another. Vandiver (62) argues that some challenges faced by societies are natural while others are human created.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Social Psychology of Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These challenges may include outbreak of chronic diseases, poverty, increase in crimes and disabilities among others. These challenges strongly affect human life and their social relations in a given society. An individual with a chronic disease that is incurable has to learn on how to leave with it. Similarly, those with disabilities have to find a way to cope with the disability if the situation is beyond human cont rol. According to Molloy (75), natural environment puts some people in some life threatening situations and people, societies and countries have to adapt to the situation in order to continue living. Different scholars have come up with several theories and perspectives that can help the society overcome and learn on how to cope with different life challenges. Some of these perspectives and theories include the Coping-succumbing framework, Insider-outsider distinction, and Adjustment to misfortune perspectives. This paper seeks explore the utility and applicability of coping-succumbing framework to misfortune perspective in comparison to the other two mentioned perspectives, in explaining adaptation process following a chronic disease and disability and delivery of services within a rehabilitation center. Comparison of adjustment to misfortune perspective with other two perspectives According to Marinelli (83), misfortunes always happen in life. Some come and leave while others come to stay. According to this scholar, these misfortunes can be life threatening if not positively taken. In the case of disabilities and chronic diseases, man is deprived the ability to easily work to earn a leaving. Most of the victims end up depending on the society for survival. However, some families and societies are unfriendly to people with disabilities and other chronic diseases. Some societies treat such people in isolation while in others such people are perceived outcasts.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such unfriendly environments cause psychological torture to these unfortunate people in the society. Comparing the three perspectives mentioned above, the coping-Succumbing framework best suits in addressing a society succumbed by such misfortunes. The Insider-outsider distinction perspective in social applications brings out the normal, healthy, educated, and wealthy to be in a better placed than the uneducated, sick, disabled, and other less fortunate members of the society. Instead of placing some people in better positions than others, the coping-succumbing framework perspective explains that since misfortunes are part of life, people affected in the community should learn the best ways of adjusting to them when they occur so that they do not affect the social relationships and interactions with the social-physical environment. The adjustment to misfortune may also be used in addressing victims of misfortunes. It explains that n once faced by misfortunes one needs accept and adjust to them. However, the theory places the victim in a very an awkward state of asking the why questions. The room of asking ‘the why’ questions causes torture to the victim. The theory gives the victim a chance to ask questions that none can respond to appropriately. The victim of for example, disability may feel unwanted and a burden to the society. Alt hough the theory applies the idea of religion, which is very important to the victim in accepting the unfortunate state, the fact that it gives the victim a personal chance to such for the cause and meaning of the misfortune makes it not effective. In comparison to the two other perspectives, coping-succumbing framework perspective remains more applicable. This is because of its ability to explore the coping mechanisms in adapting to misfortunes in life. This theory creates clear environment for the victim to accept and appreciate the misfortune as part of life, thereby responding through developing ways to adapt and cope with the misfortune. Utility of the perspective in explaining and predicting the process of chronic illness and disability adaptation From the discussion above it is clear that the perspective of coping-succumbing framework can be well applied in explaining and predicting the process of chronic illness and disability adaptation. The theory entails examining of the misfortune and defining the relevant psychosocial mechanisms for coping and adapting to the situation. In this theory, the psychosocial management starts from the onset of the disease or disability.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Social Psychology of Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It explains what affects many victims of chronic illness and disability is stress on the realization of their state. This perspective first gives the stress coping mechanisms to the victim. The theory offers the coping properties that include adoption of behaviors that are purposeful and flexible, realization of the present life and future as well and introduction of the victims to the reality of the situation. These coping properties accompanied by several ways to encourage them accept and appreciate themselves. Their role in the society is highly valued and appreciated. This theory also involves the removal of all barri ers to that may limit the interaction of the victims with both the physical and social environment. By so doing, the social and physical interaction of the victim with the environment is not affected in any way. This theory clearly outlines the dangers of succumbing to chronic diseases. Succumbing is strongly discouraged because it makes an individual have the inability mentality a situation that can worsen the victim’s situation leading death or other complex situations. According to Vandiver (47), infection with chronic disease or having a disability does not mean lack of ability to achieve. The scholar points out clearly that though disabled or sick man must leave. Such victims still have the capacity and potential to achieve as much as any other person can. This theory helps individuals in the society to prepare and predict the occurrence of chronic diseases and disability in the society. How this perspective can be applied to service delivery within rehabilitation facili ties In rehabilitation facilities, it is always important to apply the most appropriate theory that that can help the disabled and those with chronic illness. In rehabilitation centers, one factor that management must know how to deal with is self-pity. The victims would develop the ‘why me’ feeling. Such a complaining heart will make one develop a negative attitude towards almost everything that is within their surroundings. According to Molloy (94), Coping-succumbing framework is the most appropriate strategy that can be used to handle these victims. An individual suffering from a chronic disease should be made to appreciate the fact that the condition does not change his or her social standing.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, an individual who is disabled should be made to appreciate his or her condition. This theory holds that once one cannot cope with his or her condition, then he or she shall succumb. This theory employs the notion that one should be positive about his or her condition. According to Nuovo (121), people who are suffering from chronic diseases may develop denial mechanisms towards their condition. In such cases, such people would start withdrawing to themselves. Withdrawal of such people may act against their developmental process within the rehabilitation centers. According to Miller (72), within the rehabilitation centers, the main aim is always to find a correctional mechanism that will make the patient improve and feel comfortable. Some of the diseases cannot be curable. When a patient suffers from such condition, he needs to accept the condition. This is what this theory holds. According to Marinelli (83), most rehabilitation centers have experienced cases where a pat ient or a person suffering from a disability commits suicide. This is a clear case of inability of an individual to accept his or her new condition. This is very common when such a person develops the condition when he or she has advanced in age. Such people develop the feeling that they have become useless. They feel that they can no longer make positive contributions that they were making before, and therefore, believe that they are not fit to live. They would cut their lives short either to avoid being a burden to their families, or to escape the experience that people with such disabilities live with. When this happens, such a person shall be considered to have succumbed to his or her condition Rehabilitation facilities should eliminate such cases. These centers should be source of hope to the disabled and those suffering from chronic diseases. They should be made to feel that they have a bright future ahead of them. They should realize that their contribution to the society rem ains very important, and that they will always be an asset to their families other than liabilities. This is what the coping strategy proposes in this framework. First, the person must come to appreciate his or her condition. If the condition can be changed for the better, he or she should be made to realize that the ability to get better depends on their effort they make to come out of the condition. If the condition cannot be changed, then they have to appreciate the fact that that is their condition and life must continue. The most important factor in that case will be to determine how to cope with the condition. Coping with the condition will depend with the willingness of the individual to cope with this condition, and the effort that people around him or her put to elevate the condition of the patient. People who are disabled hate being sympathized with by others. According to Lubkin (17), when one sympathizes with a lame person, the person will develop the feeling that he or she cannot make it through in life. The person will feel that his or her life is ruined. This will make them feel self-pity. This does not help in elevating the condition. As Kasperson (117) observes, the rehabilitation facilities should be places where the disabled and people suffering from chronic diseases can draw their challenge. These people should be made to feel that they have a potential that cannot be tied down by their condition. This way, the will have a vision beyond their disability. They will feel that life does continue even with the disease or the disability. They will strive to meet the challenge posed, and this is one of the best ways of managing chronic diseases and disability. The rehabilitation facility should revive hope in these people. In order to achieve this, there should be people with such disabilities or chronic diseases that must have succeeded in some areas that should be invited to give motivational speech. According to Hinshaw (78), coping with chron ic disease and disabilities requires a medicine of the heart. It requires the individual to tune the mind to success. He or she should get convinced that the condition is not in any way, interfering with their capacity to achieve their desires in life. This will be the role of the motivational speaker. They will identify with them, and believe that they can lead successful lives with their disability. Conclusion Chronic diseases and disability are challenges that a person can face at any stage in life. However, it is always a big challenge to accept the condition, especially when one acquires it when he is older. Such an individual would consider life meaningless, and if not taken care of in a proper manner, then he or she can succumb to the condition. The society, and especially the rehabilitation centers, should be able to help these individuals cope with their condition. They should be made to feel that there is a lot to achieve in life despite their new condition. Works Cited Hi nshaw, Stephen. The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print. Kasperson, Jeanne. The Social Contours of Risk: 1. London: Earthscan, 2005. Print. Lubkin, Ilene. Chronic Illness: Impact and Interventions. Burlington: Jones Bartlett Learning, 2013. Print. Marinelli, Robert. The Psychological and Social Impact of Disability. New York: Springer Pub. Co, 1999. Print. Miller, Thomas. Handling Construction Defect Claims: Western States. Gaithersburg: Aspen Law Business, 1999. Print. Molloy, Susan. Handling It: You and Your Long-Term Disease. Melbourne: Hill of Content, 1995. Print. Nuovo, Jim. Chronic Disease Management. New York: Springer, 2007. Print. Vandiver, Vikki. Integrating Health Promotion and Mental Health: An Introduction to Policies, Principles, and Practices. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. This essay on The Social Psychology of Health was written and submitted by user D0m1n0 to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.