Development of the Self in Society: human related societal problems

Human factors in causing ill health, accidents, and disasters in society.

1. Development of the Self in Society HUMAN FACTORS CAUSING ILL HEALTH, ACCIDENTS, AND DISASTER

2. What Causes All The Problems In The World? The world is full of suffering – more unhappiness than happiness in most societies. The same seems to be true on the individual level. What causes most problems in society? Chance – Bad luck / nature / ‘Acts of God’ Purposeful human action – War / crime / fraud Human error – Car accidents / disease

3. Human Factors That Cause Ill-health, Disease And Crises We seem to be good a messing everything up... Why? Greed Selfishness Thoughtlessness We end up harming others and usually ourselves too...

4. Psychological Factors Psychopath = someone with no conscience that act for themselves even if it harms others Sociopath = someone who acts in antisocial ways and exhibits little empathy for others Psychological disorders cause people to act irrationally. Something internal drives them to commit harmful acts. External factors can also impact a person psychologically. Examples: School shootings in US Killing family members in suicide Serial killers

5. Are School Shootings A Psychological Phenomenon? School shootings that occur so frequently in America are a terrifying phenomena. Why are they so endemic to the U.S. in particular? What are the factors that give rise to such occurrences? Psychological factors: Mostly young (white) males Are they mentally ill – is that a legitimate ‘excuse’? Social factors: Most perpetrators are isolated, outcasts, or feel threatened in some way by society Are the liberal guns laws just a scapegoat? Is the promotion of violence a contributing factor?

6. Religious Factors Any belief system is vulnerable to extreme behaviour. Lack of physical evidence allows for claims to be made without evidence – ‘blind faith’ What is the aim of all religions? How is it manipulated for evil? Cults often the product of extreme religious views Examples: Christian wars ‘Muslim’ terrorists Satanic cults

7. Social Factors Our surrounding environment can drive people to act destructively. Social oppression = rebellion (cause of revolutions) Poverty = desperate acts of survival and ways to relieve suffering (drugs, gangs etc.) Economic instability = fear and anger (road rage*, bar fights)

8. Cultural Factors Traditions and cultures often have strange practices that can be harmful. Example: Bull fighting Honour killings Circumcision rituals Walk-About What is the aims of these rituals?

9. Knowledge Factors Pop culture = any new idea that is trendy New ideas that promise miracles are often blindly followed by people. Technology has helped crazy ideas to spread much fasters Examples: Having sex with a virgin to cure AIDS ‘Miracle cures’ to cure disease Superstition (e.g. not washing socks before a sports match) Conspiracy theories (e.g. Human are slaves of extra-terrestrials)

10. Lifestyle Diseases

11. What Is A Lifestyle Disease A disease associated with the way a person or group of people lives Disease caused by poor health choices over a period of time.

12. Causes of Lifestyle Diseases There are many lifestyle diseases but only a few causes: Smoking Alcohol Food Sex Sedentary Why do pleasurable activities end in disease?

13. Types Of Lifestyle Disease High blood pressure Cancer (skin, ovarian, prostate, lung) Obesity Diabetes TB Sexually transmitted diseases

14. Gender, Power And Disease Gender and power relations influence on disease is another under appreciated variable. W omen have historically been disadvantaged economically, politically, and socially. Such disadvantages in circumstance inevitably lead to health issues too…

15. Gender And Power Traditionally men have held power in most communities, societies, and nations What is the reason for this? Biology (greater physical strength) Traditional role of female as the carrier of children and nurturer and subservient to husband Historical religious teachings

16. How Does Gender Influence Health? Women are prone to sexual abuse More prone to certain cancers More prone to suffering in poverty More prone to lack of education More prone to STIs

17. Sexually Transmitted Disease In Men And Women STIs are bacterial or viral disease transmitted through bodily fluid (except saliva). Bacterial STIs can be cured, viral STIs can’t be cured only managed .

18. Lifestyle Vs Genetics Some people seem to stay healthy despite an unhealthy lifestyle, while some health freaks seem to never be healthy. Genetics has a strong effect on our health, our ageing, and our longevity However, research show that many disease genes are only ‘switched on’ under the right conditions. Nature vs. Nurture

19. How To Stay Healthy Prevention is better than cure

20. Healthy eating (as well as not eating) is the most important change one can make in their lifestyle. Exercising is second – 150 minutes per week is prescribed at the perfect amount. “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”