Many of the early anthropologists were medical professionals and as such the transfer of ideas initially was relatively free betwee the two fields. However with the discovery of microbial diseases the two fields seemd to split ways.
It was during the second world war and the period after that, that we observe convergence of the two fileds again. Fresh light was cast on the social and cultural aspects of medical systems. While implementing health programs in developing worl, stiff resistance was faced by modern medicine. Due to this, there was a surge in study of ecological, social and cultural aspects of diseases and health. Thus medical anthropology evolved as a separate part of physical anthropology.
Some other studies common to the two fields included growth, skeletal age, nutritional factors and genetic endocrinology.
Scope-
Anthropology studies health,disease and medicine of all people but medicine studies contemporary societies only.
While former studies health,disease and medicine with relation to biology, society and culture; the latter studies it as an autonomous system.
Subject matter-
Anthropology studies indegenous mediclal systems.
It relates medical and non medical factors wrt each other.
Studies disease causation in terms of personalistic ( supernatural), emotionalistic and naturalistic factors and forces.
Shows how a single disease is treated in different ways in different societies.
It shows how local shamans, priests, magicians and curere acquire their knowledge through selection training and practice.
Shows how native practicioners are better able to treat mental diseases that psychotherapists in western medicine.
Medicine studies western medical systems.
It doesnt examine relations between medical and non medical aspects that much.
It studies diesases only in terms of emotional and natural factors, ignoring personalistic factors.
Shows how a single disease is treated in a single system.
It shows how physicians, surgeons and other specialists are selected through a socially accepted process and undergo training to get certification from an institution.
It shows how modern medicine is less successful in treating mental disorders.
Methodology-
Anthropologists do field work in rural, primitive or urban communities.
Consider that units of investigation are populations.
Holism dominates theoretical perspective.
Medicine depends on first hand information recieved from clinics hospitals and medical institutes.
It considers an individual as the unit of investigation.
Atomism dominates the theoretical perspective.
It was during the second world war and the period after that, that we observe convergence of the two fileds again. Fresh light was cast on the social and cultural aspects of medical systems. While implementing health programs in developing worl, stiff resistance was faced by modern medicine. Due to this, there was a surge in study of ecological, social and cultural aspects of diseases and health. Thus medical anthropology evolved as a separate part of physical anthropology.
Some other studies common to the two fields included growth, skeletal age, nutritional factors and genetic endocrinology.
Scope-
Anthropology studies health,disease and medicine of all people but medicine studies contemporary societies only.
While former studies health,disease and medicine with relation to biology, society and culture; the latter studies it as an autonomous system.
Subject matter-
Anthropology studies indegenous mediclal systems.
It relates medical and non medical factors wrt each other.
Studies disease causation in terms of personalistic ( supernatural), emotionalistic and naturalistic factors and forces.
Shows how a single disease is treated in different ways in different societies.
It shows how local shamans, priests, magicians and curere acquire their knowledge through selection training and practice.
Shows how native practicioners are better able to treat mental diseases that psychotherapists in western medicine.
Medicine studies western medical systems.
It doesnt examine relations between medical and non medical aspects that much.
It studies diesases only in terms of emotional and natural factors, ignoring personalistic factors.
Shows how a single disease is treated in a single system.
It shows how physicians, surgeons and other specialists are selected through a socially accepted process and undergo training to get certification from an institution.
It shows how modern medicine is less successful in treating mental disorders.
Methodology-
Anthropologists do field work in rural, primitive or urban communities.
Consider that units of investigation are populations.
Holism dominates theoretical perspective.
Medicine depends on first hand information recieved from clinics hospitals and medical institutes.
It considers an individual as the unit of investigation.
Atomism dominates the theoretical perspective.
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