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Understanding Illness Models

This document discusses different models for understanding illness and health. It outlines several models including the magic model, moral model, political model, behavioural model, psychoanalytical model, cognitive dissonance model, systems theory model, anti-psychiatric model, radical model, sociological model, and humanistic model. Each model provides a different perspective for conceptualizing illness based on factors like beliefs, behaviors, social and political contexts, family dynamics, and human potential.

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81 views16 pages

Understanding Illness Models

This document discusses different models for understanding illness and health. It outlines several models including the magic model, moral model, political model, behavioural model, psychoanalytical model, cognitive dissonance model, systems theory model, anti-psychiatric model, radical model, sociological model, and humanistic model. Each model provides a different perspective for conceptualizing illness based on factors like beliefs, behaviors, social and political contexts, family dynamics, and human potential.

Uploaded by

Loo DrBrad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Models of Illness

Dr Bruce Davies
Why Models?

 What is an illness?
 What is health?
 Not just the absence
of disease.
 Many ways of looking
at what constitutes
health and disease.
Roles

 Help us understand
our role and the needs
of patients.
 Why?
 Illness behaviour.
 Fashion.
 Social context.
 Political context.
Illness Models

Magic model.
Moral model.
Political model.
Behavioural model.
Psychoanalytical model.
Cognitive dissonance model.
Illness Models

Systems theory model.


Anti-psychiatric model.
Radical model.
Sociological model.
Humanistic model.
Magic Model

Said to be common in Haiti, perhaps a


rather condescending idea!

The western model of “it’s a viral


infection” is however identical!
Moral Model

 Retribution for
deviant behaviour.
 Where the blame is
shifted to the patient.
 “Perhaps that will
teach you to do as you
are told and keep your
coat on.”
Political Model

 Improved working
conditions will treat
back pain.
 Higher pensions will
make all the elderly
well.
 Better housing etc.
Behavioural Model

Manipulative behaviours.
Compensation claims.
Secondary gains.
What are they getting out of it?
Enhanced benefits if unemployed.
Psychoanalytical Model

Illness is the ego’s attempt to defend itself


against unresolved unconscious conflicts.
Why is cancer more likely within 18
months of a bereavement?
Cognitive Dissonance Model

 Discrepancy between
self-image and reality.
 Classic example is
anorexia nervosa.
Systems Theory Model

Regulating factor modifying or stabilising


a family’s interpersonal processes.
For example asthma in a 6 year old, in a
marital breakdown.
Anti-psychiatric Model

Illness is “A booby prize for being the loser


in a family’s internal power struggle”
Radical Model

 An invented label.
 The monopolistic
medical profession.
 Why to rates of
common operations
(i.e. hysterectomy)
vary with out
measurable effects on
health?
Sociological Model

 Illness is what you


call it if you want a
doctor to deal with it
– ie delinquency.
 Anti-social behaviour
is what you call it if
you want the legal
system to deal with it
– ie delinquency
 etc
Humanistic Model

Illness is a sign of frustrated human


potential.

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