Resistance as a Gateway to Change: An Exploration of Health Identity
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Authors
Fry, Nina Alison
Issue Date
2008
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Every aspect of a system of healthcare is based upon the concepts of the body, health, medicine, and patient responsibility that are held to be true within that paradigm of healthcare. These concepts look profoundly different from the perspective of the traditional mainstream medical and holistic health models. Health behaviors are particularly interesting to explore in these two healthcare models because health behavior change is the area of healthcare where the individual has the most influence over their health status and outcomes. The way that the process of health behavior change and the role of resistance are perceived powerfully reflects the fundamental beliefs of each healthcare paradigm, and informs the construction of Health Identity. In this paper health behavior change, resistance, health identity, and the developmental levels of the traditional mainstream medical and holistic health paradigms are discussed.