Medical Sociology and Medical Anthropology

Unit 1 Sociology
Historical Development of Society

1. Asiatic / Forest Society

Means of Production:
Forest, resource, animal hunting
Relation of Production:
Free Labour
Health System:
Nature control
Conditions:
Population increased and resource limitation
Prospect:
Scarcity and hunger
Situation:
Exploytation between human and conflict between
stronger and weaker.
Remarks:
Change
2. Salvery Society
Means of Production:
As above and slaves as property
Relation of Production:
Master VS Slaves
Health System:
As above and magic and religion
Conditions:
As above
Prospect:
As above
Situation:

As above

Remarks: Change
3. Feudalistic Society;
Means of Production:
Agriculture and animal Husbandry
Relation of Production: Landlords VS Tenants
Health System:
As above Ayurvedic and ethnomedicine
Conditions
: As Above
Prospec
t
: As above
Situation
: As above
Remarks
: Change
4. Semi Feudalistic Society
Means of Production
: As above and Petty Industries
Relation of Production
: As above and Farmers, owners VS Labour
Health System
: As above and emergence of Allopathic system
Conditions
: As Above
Prospec
t
: As above
Situation
: As above
Remarks
: Change

5. Capitalistic Society:
Means of Production
: As above and Industries
Relation of Production
: Owner VS Labour, Landlord VS Farmers
Health System
: As above and emergence of public health
Conditions
: As Above
Prospec
t
: As above
Situation
: As above
Remarks
: Change
6. Imperialistic Society
Means of Production
: Colonial Countries resources
Relation of Production
: Imperialist VS Colonies
Health System
: Above all specialization
Conditions
: As Above with heavy exploitation
Prospect
: As above and Nationality unity
Situation
: As above and war
Remarks
: Change
7. Socialistic Society:
Means of Production: Social cooperatives and all types
Relation of Production: Society and social groups
Health System: As types
Conditions: Balance
Prospect: Elimination of hunger
Situation: Development
Remarks: Change
8. Proposed Communistic:
Means of Production: National Cooperative
Relation of Production: National and citizens
Health System: Expect Shamanism others as above
Conditions: More balance
Prospect: development
Situation: Development
Remarks: Change
General outline of the subject matter of sociology, Definition of Sociology
Definition of Sociology
-

Society is the web of social relationship.

Abstract and dynamic concept.

Co-operation and conflict is in society

Depend on the law of interdependence and mutual awareness.
Likeness and difference is in society.

August Comte is the founding father of sociology.

It is originated in 1838, by his famous book The Course of Positive
Philosophy
Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber are known as the four
founding father of sociology.
Sociology is composed of two words, they are latin Socius and Greek
Logos, Where socius means society and Logos means study or science.
Thus the etymological meaning of sociology is the science of society.
Sociology study the pattern of social relationship, interaction, problems, and
the holistic study of the society.
Sociology is the science of society
Sociology is the study of social relationship.
Sociology is the study of social phenomena, behavior and functions.
Sociology is the study of social groups.
Sociology is the study of social interactions.

Definitions of sociology

Kingsley Davis: Sociology is the general science of society.

George Simmel: Sociology is the science of the forms of human
interrelations.
Henry Fairchild: Sociology is the study of man and his human environment
in their relations to each othetr.
Herbert Spencer: Sociology is the study of interrelations between the
different parts of society.
Max Weber: Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative
understanding of social action.

Relationship of Sociology with Anthropology, Psychology Public Health and

Health Education
Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology depends upon anthropology to understand the present social
phenomena from the knowledge of the past which is often provided by
anthropology.
These both disciplines are closely related with each other and frequently
indistinguishable. These both are related as social science while study the
various aspects of society and culture, the relation between sociology and

anthropology is found more intimate. Because society and culture are closely
interrelated with each other. Without sociological background the study of
anthropology is incomplete and without the study of man, his works, culture
and activities the sociology also incomplete. Sociology provides the actual
holistic knowledge of the society and anthropology also provide
the
knowledge of the origin and development of human, their culture, activities
etc.

Sociology and Psychology

Psychology is the study of human behavior, mental process, experiences
behavior intelligences, attitudes, hopes, fears and other psychological aspect
of human. On the other hand sociology studies the social phenomena.
Psychology depends on sociology to understand about the social structure,
relations, organization and total of the social phenomena. Sociology also
depends on psychology to understand about the mental or psychological
aspect of human. By studying the human psychology we can imagine about
the society because society is the reflection of the individual behavior.
Individual behavior also guided by the social structure.
Subject Matter of Sociology
Sociology concentrated for the study of human society, its major elements
and its dynamics. Sociology studies about social action, social change, social
order, status, structure, function, stratification, agency, relation, interaction
etc. In broadest sense social interactions their structure and functions are
studied by sociology. Sociology studies human society, social action, social
group, social institution as well as the various social, religious, political and
economic organizations. It also studies the social interactions of people and
groups trace the origin and growth of society and social process, and analyze
the influence of group activities on individual and others. The sociologist
seeks to provide an analysis of human society and its various forms in
sociological perspective. Sociology has given sufficient attention to the study
of primary unites of social life. Sociology has been concerned with the
development, structure, and function of a wide variety of basic social
institutions such as family, kinship, religion, economic, political, legal, and
educational and other various institutions. Sociology also applies scientific
method in social research.

Sociological Contributions in public Health

Sociology has developed a distinct body of knowledge, conc erning medicine
and even added to general social theory or social phenomena. In fact, it can
contribute in the field of public halth and decision making in the medical
sector. Various social factors are responsible in disease, illness , the
behaviour of patients, the medical profession, related health workers, and
different types of medical organizations.
Unit 2
Anthropology
The word anthropology is derived from two Greek words anthropos
meaning human and
Logos meaning study or science. Thus the
etymological meaning of anthropology is the scientific study of human. It is
the science which serves the infinite curiosity about human beings, their
activities, culture and physical structure from past to present. It is the science
of human for the study of social, cultural, physical and other aspect of human
and society. Thus anthropology is the scientific study of overall activities and
developments about human from past to present. It is the only discipline
which strives to understand human and his actions totality.
Herskovits: Anthropology is the science of man and his works.
E.A. Hobel: Anthropology is the study of man, his works and races and
customs of mankind.
A.L. Kroeber: Anthropology is the science of man, his groups and of their
behavior and production.
Jacobs and Stern: Anthropology is the scientific study of the physical, social
and cultural development and behavior of human beings since their
appearance on this earth.

Scope of Anthropology
-

The scope of anthropology is quite wide which deals two broad area physical
and socio-cultural sector of human.
It studies man and all of his works of all time and spaces.
The scope of anthropology consists the origin and evolution of human.
Subjects related to the origin and development of socio-cultural, ethnic and
political organizations and institutions.
Subjects related to arts, literature, technology those invented by human in
different period.
Study the cultural and human fossils.
It studies both material and non material culture from past to present.

Sub divisions of Anthropology.

1) Physical Anthropology: physical anthropology is the branch of anthropology,
which studies the physical character, origin, development and evolution of
the physical structure of human being through time. It also has following
branches.
a) Human Genetics: It is the study of human heredity. It studies the human
physical characteristics that are transmitted through heredity from
generation to generation.
b) Human Paleontology: It studies the previous physical structure of human
on the basis of fossils of different stage.
c) Anthropometry: It is concerned with measurement and classification of
physical physiological differences among men on the basis of different
physical traits. It classifies men into different racial group. One group
differs from another on different physical base like length and breadth of
head, nose, color of skin, eye, hair etc.
2) Cultural anthropology: It studies the origin, development and history of
culture, their evolution and development, as well as structure and functions
of human culture in every place and time. It has following branches:
a) Archaeology: It is the study of pre historic culture on the basis of different
cultural fossils. The main aim of this branch is to study the origin, spread
and evolution of culture through time. It is related to history.
b) Linguistics: It studies the origin, development and variance of languages
through time and place. It is concerned to study the relationship between
culture and language.
c) Ethnology: It studies the customary system of the society from past to
present. It seeks to study how and why people of today and past differ in
their custom, ways of thinking and acting.
d) Social anthropology: It is the study of social organization, institutions,
social system, activities, structure and other various social aspect of
society.

The Holistic Approach:

Anthropology focuses the holistic approach in its study. The holistic study of
human, his various activities, all the culture which is created by human is
study by anthropology. Culture and human activities occupies wide area in
society which is study by anthropology. It is not concerned to study the
limited aspect of human. But study all the related sector of human activities
and culture.
Anthropological contributions in public health

The knowledge of anthropology helps us to have the holistic approach which is very
important in health care system. With the help of anthropology, we can care the
health status include all aspect like social, cultural, language economic and others.
Anthropology studies about culture, customs, behavior, activities, and economic,
political and other aspects. With the knowledge of this sector, it is better to
understanding and treatment of various diseases of the society. Because various
diseases and culture is interrelated with each other.