A Critical Comparison and Contrast Between the Community Psychology and Public Health Approaches to Social Problems.

Assignment 01

Assignment 01

UNISA

PYC 4811

4271-896-1

malissahulme@gmail.com

4/23/2012

UNISA

PYC 4811

4271-896-1

malissahulme@gmail.com

4/23/2012

Malissa Hulme

A critical comparison and contrast between the community psychology and public health approaches to social problems.

Malissa Hulme

A critical comparison and contrast between the community psychology and public health approaches to social problems.

Table of Contents

Introduction 2

History 2

Differences 3

Similarities 4

Conclusion 4

Bibliography 5

Introduction

In this essay, the history, differences and similarities of Public health Approach and Community Health Psychology will be discussed. In order to fully discuss and contrast these two topics, one must first have a basic idea or definition of the two fields.

Public health approach attempts, through scientific investigation, to understand such links between the socio-environmental context and the individual, and then to interrupt or otherwise alter these connections in an effort to reduce the likelihood of individuals engaging in high-risk behaviors and being exposed to environments that could endanger their health.

Community health psychology investigates community factors that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals who live in communities.

History

In South Africa the public health approach is based on the Western or biomedical model of illness. There are four stages of development in the public health approach that transpired through the ages up until now. From the 1850’s until the end of the First World War the first stage emerged. Sanitary Science focused on managing the movement of human waste products such as sweat, exhaled air, urine and feces. Social medicine, the second stage and dominated the public health practice in South Africa from 1930 till mid 1950’s, was chiefly concerned with persuading people to take an interest in and care for their own bodies and health....