ANTH 340 Final Exam 2025

ANTH 340 Final Exam 2025 Are hallucinations affected by culture? How so? - -yes, visual or auditory. Auditory in W Africa, protestants, Islam. Visual in Austria, catholic, Hindus Beverly Strassmann's menstruation theory - -why do some animals go through reproductive cycles? -cycles more than just menstruation -depends on species anatomy -byproduct of species physiology Maintaining a womb that is prepared for an embryo is costly, less energy is used to destroy and rebuild the womb, some animals just reabsorb what is destroyed while other animals bleed Can we eliminate infectious diseases without eliminating poverty? - - Colin Finn's menstruation theory (1994) - -in other animals, the last part of endometrial development happens after implantation, but in humans this happens before Explain how exposure to malaria has shaped the genetic characteristics of some populations. How is diet related to malaria risk? - -duffy blood group: one of the RBC surface proteins, people without this protein are resistant to a parasite that causes malaria. Glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: this deficiency of G-6PD means the body builds up hydrogen peroxide which gives some resistance to malaria Give examples of the cultural construction of aging - -biological phenomenon embedded in a cultural context, biomedical model of aging and health, Julie Livingston's research in Botswana Historically, how has the medical field treated women's health? - -in the past, women were often not included in studies or clinical trials How are menstruation huts used? - -separate living areas for women who are menstruating How are pathogens transmitted? - -droplet, airborne, vector, sit and wait How are the goals in mental health treatment different in Japan than in the US? - -in Japan, mental illness is not viewed as something that requires professional treatment. Patients or their families take care of it themselves. Working on improving the quality, quantity and accessibility of mental health services How are those mental disorders treated in Geel, Belgium? - -people with mental illness are not patients, but rather guests or boarders. They go to Geel and join households to share a life with people who can water over them ANTH 340 ANTH 340 How can gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension be a conflict between the mother and the fetus? - -untreated gestational diabetes can increase the baby's risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes How dangerous are falls to individuals over 60 years of age? What are the rates of falls for those over 65 years old? - -20% of those who experience falls will die within a year and the rest might need lifelong assistance. 1/3 of adults over 65 fall each year How did plantation systems create an environment for infectious diseases to thrive? - clearing land disrupted ecosystems (new pathogens, lack of animal hosts, new host in humans), undernourished and overworked laborers, low immunity, urban centers and diversity, railways and roads (move people and products, movement of pathogens) How did the introduction of new infectious diseases to the New World population work to weaken and in some cases destroy their cultures? - -Native Americans suffered 80 90% population losses in most of America. Greatest tolls- influenza, typhoid, measles and smallpox How do cultural and religious attitudes shape perspectives on acceptable infertility treatment? Egyptian views? - -in Egypt, IVF treatments have risen significantly since the revolution of 2011 How do dementia rates compare between African Americans and the Yoruba? What environmental factors might influence these rates? - -significantly lower in the Yoruba than in African Americans. Higher levels of cholesterol How do demographic changes in the developing world increase the likelihood of the appearance and spread of new infectious diseases? - -the volume of today's population movements (flight) make it faster and easier for viruses to spread. Increased volume of travel makes it harder to stop/slow the spread. Population density has increased How do different cultures address the onset of menstruation in girls? - -Cherokee- menstruating women considered sacred and powerful Hindu- women secluded during menstruation Judaism- must take a bath after period before resuming sexual relations How do pathogens gain entry to hosts? What is the role of a vector? What are common vectors? - -pathogens use a vector to spread, vectors are intermediate species or materials that can take pathogens from one host to another. Examples- fleas, mites, ticks, mosquitoes, caretakers, water, etc. How do stis affect fertility? - -stis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease; may cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues ANTH 340 ANTH 340 How does cortisol influence energy metabolism? - -cortisol increases availability of all fuel substrates by mobilization of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. When in excess, cortisol decreases lean body mass and muscle mass and may increase energy expenditure How does social cohesion and social participation affect health in Scandinavian countries? Japan? Kerala, India? Soviet Union? - -Scandanavian: shared values and goals, equitable distribution of resource, health improves along population, high life expectancies. Japan: social dependency, loyalty, solidarity, high life expectancy, CVD rates low, but suicide rates are high associated with work. Kerala: lowest income in India, but good health, social cohesion high, social security, high female literacy, healthcare provided Russia: less cohesive, more inequality, social services diminished, lower life expectancies How does the frequency of osteoporosis vary by sex and population? What interventions are taken against this disease? - -women tend to have higher rates. Non hispanic blacks have lower rates than non hispanic whites and mexican american (most likely because this population is not screened for by their physicians) Interventions: weight bearing exercise, tobacco and alcohol avoidance, hormone replacement therapy, calcium supplementation How has dam building led to ecological transformation encouraging the spread or distribution of infectious diseases? What are the diseases that have been transmitted by dam building? How has this occurred? - -damming rivers creates breeding grounds for vectors. Schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis (fast flowing waters) How have pathogens and humans co-evolved? - -humans have been exposed to pathogens throughout history; pathogen responses to our adaption How is birth weight a stabilizing selection? - -birth weight predicts certain negative outcomes; mothers need good care so babies are born at healthy weights How is birth weight used as in indicator of a newborn's health status? What can influence birth weight? - -infants with lower birth weights are more likely to die from coronary heart disease, more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Undernutrition during a pregnancy can program fetal metabolism for times of scarcity and stress. Over nutrition can result in increased fat storage leading to being overweight How is menopause viewed in Japan? In the US? - -in Japan, less likely to report hot flashes, sleeplessness, cold or night sweats. 27% of Japanese women report no symptoms, 15% of American women. In Japan, there is no term for menopause. How is menstruation viewed as polluting? What cultural practices reinforce those beliefs? - -In India, there may be restrictions placed on women who are menstruating and food preparations, access to parts of home, and visit sacred areas ANTH 340 ANTH 340 How is social life itself a stressor for humans? - - How is the aging brain viewed in Northern India? - -emphasizes weakness of body and mind, becoming dependent, becoming stubbornly "sixtyish", refusing to listen, becoming angry and hot-brained, remaining connected to family is important for aging How is the cardiovascular system compromised by chronic stress? What is "voodoo" death? - -an individual who experiences chronic activation of the stress response becomes more likely to have blood vessel damage. Voodoo death is a psychophysiological death with sorcery or curses How is the medical model of mental illness expressed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders? - -health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior. Associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities How is the onset of menses a rite of passage? In India? In sub-Saharan Africa? Among the Apache? What is done to mark this transition? - -In India, menarche means a girl's movements and activities are restricted, she is not of marriageable age and sexual overtures may begin. In Africa, menarche is a signal for female circumcision. For the apache, the sunrise ritual celebrates a girl's transition to womanhood, the girls who participate must have started menstruating How is the spread of Ebola prevented? What happened in West Point? The Firestone plantation? How were these two quarantines/ isolations different? - -West Point: home of fishing and mariner population, Ebola containment center was placed in their community, 60,00 inhabitants were placed in quarantine after inhabitants dismantled the Ebola ward and tore down barricades, the Liberian army opened fire on residents Firestone- makeshift isolation ward and treatment center How many menses do women in developed countries experience compared with women living traditional lives? How might this affect rates of breast cancer? - -starting menstrual periods at a young age is linked to a small increase in breast cancer risk In Palau, how do cultural practices influence the lives of young men and young women who have schizophrenia? - - In what ways are the reproductive lives of women more medicalized than those of men? - -women's reproductive health has been medicalized so that common women's issues are seen as a medical problem that requires treatment In what ways can one combat stress? - -behavioral or cognitive modifications (laughter, medication, coping strategies) ANTH 340 ANTH 340 In what ways has male sexual dysfunction been medicalized? - -smaller % of younger men dealing with this issue, in some societies it is seen as a natural process because people get it as they are older Is high BP affected by age or stressful psychosocial environments? What do traditional cultures? Nuns that live in cloisters? - -psychological stress is associated with a greater risk for hypertension Is there a desire to suppress menstruation? Why or why not? Why might menstruation be desired? - -women say they are interested in suppressing menstruation, but are concerned that stopping it completely is unhealthy Margie Profet's Menstruation theory (1993) - -the human pattern of ovulation and sexual activity increases the chance of stds, menstruation evolved to protect women from infection; evidence does not support- no more pathogens before menstruation than after, women of all sexual activity levels menstruate, change of infection is heightened during menstruation What are emergent diseases? Has biomedicine been able to conquer infectious diseases? - -emergent- infectious diseases whose incidence in humans has increased within the past 2 decades of threatens to increase in the near future. Modern biomedicine has contributed to the reduction of infectious diseases What are Ghana's spirit children? What happens to such children? What are some of the possible reasons this has been done? How has this changed? - -bush spirits born into a human body- seen as dangerous. Children who have physical disabilities, chronic illness, unusual behaviors, their mother dies during childbirth, or simply blamed for illness and misfortune; father labels child as a spirit child. They are buried in a special place well away from the village, families do not mourn the child as a normal human being What are Paul Ewald's ideas about disease virulence? - -immunity of host population, distribution of hosts. Higher reproductive rate of the pathogen, ability to produce a toxin, other attributes. What are some factors in determining a woman's fertility? Fecundability? - -fertility- age and hormone levels Fecundability (ability to conceive)- frequency of sexual intercourse, lactational infecundability, stis What are some genetic adaptations to malaria? - -sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, duffy blood group, G-6PD deficiency What are some human defenses against pathogens? - -skin, respiratory system (mucus, coughing, sneezing, blowing nose), GI system (low ph, immune proteins), vomiting, diarrhea, fever ANTH 340 ANTH 340 What are some of the advantages of being nauseous and vomiting during pregnancy? - -studies have shown that women with nausea and vomiting during the first trimester have a lower risk of miscarriage What are some of the cultural factors that may impact the continued practice of FGC? - --rite of passage -tied to honor (female purity and virginity marker) -identity and group membership -femininity -controls female sexuality -protects against targeting -demonstrates ability to tolerate pain What are some of the health problems that can arise from FGC? Short term? Long term? - -short term: infection, pain, hemorrhaging Long term: difficulty with urination, utis, menstrual difficulties, scarring/ cysts/ painful sex, problems with pregnancy and childbirth, death What are some problems with cross-cultural diagnosis of mental health diseases? - there are cultural variations. Can be auditory or visual What are some ways the human body typically changes after 40 years of age? - -facial wrinkles increase, scalp hair thins, get shorter, osteoporosis What are the 3 categories of individuals who have "weak" brains? - -emphasize weakness, becoming stubbornly "sixtyish", becoming angry and hot-brained What are the 3 important tasks of the immune system? What are its basic components? - -defense against microorganisms, defense against the growth of tumor cells, homeostasis to destroy abnormal or dead cells What are the differences between the innate and adaptive immune systems? - -innate- first line of response, relies on mechanisms that exist before infection, includes skin, mucus membranes, humoral mechanisms, cellular defense mechanisms Adaptive- second line of defense, relies on mechanisms that adapt after infection, handled by T-cells, based on resistance acquired during lifetime, responds more slowly What are the different functions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems? - parasympathetic- activated during vegetative activities and suppressed during a stress response Sympathetic- activated during a stress response and suppressed for vegetative activities What are the effects of consistent stress on American blacks? What is weathering? -