Seminars

Fundamental Cause Theory and the Social Shaping of Population Health

Bruce G. Link - Epidemiology and Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University

Tuesday, 05/20/2008
12:00 - 1:30
243 Journalism

In the last century human beings have greatly expanded their capacity to control disease and death. Any explanation of current health disparities by such factors as socioeconomic position or race must take account of this fact. Indeed we argue that disparities are created by the human capacity to control disease and death-- that when we gain such capacity people with more knowledge, money, power, prestige, and beneficial social connections are better able to harness the benefits of the control we have developed. Health disparities are the result. The talk will provide evidence pertaining to this explanation for health disparities while at the same time providing scope conditions that suggest limits to its explanatory reach.