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Which statement below is TRUE of the original definition of a culture-bound illness?

a) It is universally recognized as a medical condition.
b) It is not influenced by cultural beliefs or practices.
c) It is specific to a particular cultural group and may not be recognized as an illness in other cultures.
d) It is a well-understood and widely accepted medical condition.

User Alextunyk
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Statement c) is true for the original definition of a culture-bound illness; it is specific to a certain cultural group and may not be recognized by others. This concept recognizes the intertwined role of cultural beliefs and practices in defining what constitutes an illness within different societies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The original definition of a culture-bound illness refers to medical or psychological conditions that are specific to a particular cultural group and are influenced by cultural beliefs or practices. Such illnesses may not be recognized in the same way or might not be recognized at all by other cultures. An example of this is susto, which is understood within some Latino societies but may not be recognized elsewhere as an illness. Ultimately, these conditions are deeply entwined with the cultural meaning of illness, the social construction of the illness experience, and the social construction of medical knowledge, as described by sociologists Conrad and Barker.

Statement c) 'It is specific to a particular cultural group and may not be recognized as an illness in other cultures' is the TRUE statement concerning the original definition of a culture-bound illness. It acknowledges that the recognition and conceptualization of such illnesses are culturally determined and are not universally recognized as medical conditions. The other options either contradict the localized nature of culture-bound illnesses or mistakenly suggest they are universally accepted or biologically based without cultural influence.

User Laurence Rowe
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