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From Dissonance to Tolerance: Toward Managing Health in Tropical Cultures

Author

Listed:
  • Malcolm MacLachlan

    (Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi)

  • Stuart C. Carr

    (Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Australia)

Abstract

Against a backdrop in which in which psychology is being increasingly criticised for failing to meet the pressing needs of Third World' peoples, we report findings from Malawi relevant to the management of health services in the tropics. Surveys of beliefs regarding malaria, schistosom iasis, epilepsy and psychiatric symptomatology have all revealed a remarkable "tropical tolerance "forboth modern medical and traditional forms of health service: belief in the "medical" consistently does not preclude belief in the "traditional", and vice versa. This paper presents reliable psychological evidence which may refute the universality of the dissonance reduction process, while supporting the integration of "traditional" types of health care into the predominantly "medical" and extremely understaffed Malawian health care system We derive hypotheses from this newly appreciated the oretical axis which may also have applications in other developing societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Malcolm MacLachlan & Stuart C. Carr, 1994. "From Dissonance to Tolerance: Toward Managing Health in Tropical Cultures," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 6(2), pages 119-129, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:psydev:v:6:y:1994:i:2:p:119-129
    DOI: 10.1177/097133369400600203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jacoby, Ann, 1992. "Epilepsy and the quality of everyday life: Findings from a study of people with well-controlled epilepsy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 657-666, March.
    2. Elizabeth Elliot & Marian Pitts & John Mcmaster, 1992. "Nurses' Views of Parasuicide in a Developing Country," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 38(4), pages 273-279, December.
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