CULTURE AND PAIN Private and Public Pain LIHernandez
CULTURE AND PAIN Private and Public Pain LIHernandez
Cultural Understanding of Pain � Not all social or cultural groups may respond to pain in exactly the same way � How people perceive and respond to pain, both in themselves and in others, can be influenced by their cultural and social background � How and whether, people communicate their pain to health professionals and to others can be influenced by social and cultural factors LIHernandez 2
Pain Perspectives � Physiological perspective › Pain can be thought of a type of signaling device for drawing attention to tissue damage or to physiological malfunction. › Pain arises when a nerve or nerve ending is affected by a noxious stimulus, either from within the body or from outside it. LIHernandez 3
Pain Perspectives � Physiological Perspective › Pain is culture-free, in the sense of there being a universal biological reaction to a specific type of stimulus (i. e. , sharp objects, hot/cold phenomena). However, the 2 forms of reaction can be differentiated into: �INVOLUNTARY: Instinctive such as pulling away from the sharp object �VOLUNTARY: Removing the source of pain and taking action to treat the symptom (e. g. medicines) or asking another person for help in relieving the symptom LIHernandez 4
Pain Perspectives � Private Pain Perspective › Pain is felt by a person and signals it to other people, verbally or non-verbally › Pain remains private because there is no outward clue or sign that the person is experiencing pain, even when it is severe �It can be cultural – �CHEYENNE INDIANS: Pain is a ritual from boyhood to manhood �FILIPINOS: Painful episodes among boys to become men (i. e. , baptism of fire and blood) LIHernandez 5
Pain Perspectives � Public Pain Perspective › Public pain depends on the person’s interpretation of the significance of the pain; whether it is seen as “normal” or “abnormal” pain. �Examples: Dysmenorrhea or Heart pain �Normal Pain: Cultural prescription of relief �Abnormal Pain: Biomedical intervention LIHernandez 6
Pain Perspectives � Physical Pain Perspective › Physical pain is a particularly vivid and emotionally laden symptom, it can only be understood in a cultural context by seeing it as part of the wider spectrum of – �MISFORTUNE �Form of punishment �Moral transgressions �Witchcraft LIHernandez 7
Social Aspects of Pain Permissible pain behavior within a society are learned in childhood and infancy (e. g. avoidance of hot and cold, excessive sports for girls, spanking) � Individual sufferers are encouraged to turn their private pain into public pain within a ritual context of healing (e. g. , Chinese mourning rituals or help groups for cancer or HIV positives) � LIHernandez 8
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