Social And Behavioral Sciences

1. SEATWORK ! (INDIVIDUAL-1HR)
1. What Is Social and Behavioral Science?
2. Define the ff.
Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Political science/public policy
Economics
Communications
Demography
Geography
3. How is social and behavioral science related to public health?
4. What is social and behavioral aspects of public health?
5. Why should we study social and behavioral factors in public health?
6. In what way does behavioral science theory help us in public
health?

2. 2
SOCIAL &
BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCES
PUBLIC HEALTH
Instructor: Milgrace E.
Nonesa, RPh

3. WHAT IS SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCE?
The social and behavioral sciences draws from an
interdisciplinary combination of subjects such as
sociology, psychology, and anthropology to
provide a well-rounded understanding of the
human experience.
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• The study of how human
behavior impacts personal
thoughts , decisions ,
interactions , and actions.

4. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
also called HTN
A major Risk factor for
Cardiovascular disease.
Your blood pressure changes
throughout the day based on
your activities and food
consumption.
Changing a personal
behavior to eat less sodium
can lower high blood pressure

5. CONTRIBUTIONS OF SOCIAL AND
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES TO PUBLIC
HEALTH
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Political science/public policy
- Economics
- Communications
- Demography
- Geography

6. SOCIOLOGY
Is the study of human social relationships and institutions.
Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to
religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of
race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common
culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole
societies.
how human action and consciousness both shape and are
shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures.
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7. SOCIOLOGISTS
Emphasize the careful gathering and analysis of evidence
about social life
Observe the everyday life of Groups
 conduct large-scale surveys
 interpret historical documents
 analyze census data
 study video-taped interactions
 interview participants of groups, and
conduct laboratory experiments.
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8. 5 EXAMPLES OF HOW SOCIOLOGY
IMPACTS EVERYDAY LIFE
1. Conflict Theory: Class or Social Inequalities
how they are created, what fuels them, and what inequalities arise as
a result. Social inequality is linked to an imbalance in the distribution
of wealth and resources that can impact social standing, social class,
and social life.
For example, sociologists study how race and gender contribute to
social inequalities within and across our societies. Sociologists
research the contributing elements that create gender wage-gaps, as
well as how racial bias contributes to disproportionate police brutality
against minority groups.

9. SOCIOLOGISTS EVALUATE SOCIAL
INEQUALITY IN TWO PRIMARY
CATEGORIES:
1. Inequality of conditions
the imbalanced and unequal distribution of wealth and
income.
For example, in the United States, 69.8 percent of
the country’s net worth was held by the top 10 percent of the
richest individuals, with the top one percent holding 32.1
percent in 2021.
2. Inequality of opportunities
 the unequal availability of life opportunities, such as
education, criminal justice, jobs, and health care.
 For example, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention state that black women are more likely to
experience a stillborn birth. A sociologist would study

10. 5 EXAMPLES OF HOW SOCIOLOGY
IMPACTS EVERYDAY LIFE
2. Symbolic Interactionism
 major sociological framework
 aims to explain human behavior by evaluating the symbolic
meanings individuals develop and build upon throughout their lives.
In society, different objects, gestures, behaviors, and events may
mean different things.
example — emojis , Rainbows
 A smiling emoji could simply communicate being happy, but,
it may also seem passive-aggressive.
 rainbow may be used to express positive emotions, hope,
and happiness.
 A rainbow is also a symbol for the LGBTQ+community as
well, representing togetherness, unity, and pride.

11. 5 EXAMPLES OF HOW SOCIOLOGY
IMPACTS EVERYDAY LIFE
3. Social Roles
The concept of roles focuses on predictable behavior — as human
beings, predictability maintains stasis and prevents risk. Society
“defines” these roles by creating predictable expectations of behavior
— a person’s behavior should correspond to their social role.
Ex.
“You are not acting your age.”
“That was unprofessional behavior.”
If a cashier tells a political joke to a customer, it may be perceived as
offensive and inappropriate — it does not fit into the established
societal rules for this role.

12. 5 EXAMPLES OF HOW SOCIOLOGY
IMPACTS EVERYDAY LIFE
4. Emotional Expectations
It’s not simply a physiological response to stimuli;
gender roles established in our society may influence how
we express our emotions.
For example
 there’s an unwritten rule in our society that men don’t, or
shouldn’t, cry — it’s not “masculine behavior.” On the other hand,
women shouldn’t display aggression — it’s not “feminine
behavior.”
Through these expectations of behavior, individuals express
emotions differently based on society’s gender norms. However,
this contributes to a larger societal challenge – gender inequality.

13. 5 EXAMPLES OF HOW SOCIOLOGY
IMPACTS EVERYDAY LIFE
5. Environmental Sociology
Our choices individually, nationally, and globally directly
impact our world — environmental sociology aims to
understand our interactions with our natural and created
environments.
For example,
environmental-social movements advocate against
companies that display a lack of environmental
consciousness, either through animal testing, carbon
footprint size, or destruction of protected lands and
groups.
“Are electric cars utilized among a particular set of

14. PSYCHOLOGY
is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
Psychologists
are actively involved in studying and understanding
mental processes,
brain functions, and
behavior.
The field of psychology is considered a "Hub Science" with
strong connections to the medical sciences, social sciences,
and education
(Boyack, Klavans, & Borner, 2005). 14

15. PSYCHOLOGY cont.
Arguably the most recognized (and popular)
amongst the social and behavioral sciences,
psychology is the
“science of the mind,”
a combination of research, theory, analysis,
and application that spans nearly every career
field.

16. Clinical health psychology
 professionally recognized specialty that investigates and
implements clinical services across diverse populations
and settings to promote health and well-being and to
prevent, treat and manage illness and disability.
Problems addressed
Clinical health psychologists have knowledge of how
learning, memory, perception, cognition and motivation
influence health behaviors and impact physical illness,
injury, and disability.
 Examples of problem areas addressed by the specialty include:
Weight management.
Tobacco use.
Pain management.
Psychological adjustment to serious and chronic disease.
Appropriateness for and adherence to medical treatment.

17. ANTHROPOLOGY
the systematic study of humanity, with the goal of
understanding our evolutionary origins, our
distinctiveness as a species, and the great diversity in
our forms of social existence across the world and
through time.
The focus of Anthropology is on understanding both
our shared humanity and diversity, and engaging with
diverse ways of being in the world.
It is the study of how people in different cultural
settings experience health and illness
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18. RECENT EXAMPLES
research into the impact of AIDS on Central African
societies,
the consequences of the traumas of war on families in
Sri Lanka and Guatemala,
the impact of the new reproductive technologies (for
example, in vitro fertilization) on British notions of 'the
family',
the impact of malnutrition on Brazilian ideas of
children's illness,
the appearance of new illnesses like multiple
personality disorder and chronic fatigue (Gulf War

19. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
 The social and behavioral sciences play a vital
role in public health by identifying and addressing
real-world social inequalities.
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20. Career profiles in social &
behavioral science
Public Health
1. Health Educator – These professionals give public health
education presentations and conduct community
assessments. A general knowledge of public health and
strategies for disease prevention is required, and while a
college degree isn’t necessarily, having one in public health
or a related field could be advantageous.
2. Public Health Coordinator for HIV/AIDS prevention – The
duties in this position involve effectively implementing
promotional and health education policies and procedures.
A bachelor’s degree in public health, health behavior, a
related field, or at least three years of relevant work 20

21. Career profiles in social &
behavioral science
Mental Health
1. Crisis Counselor – This professional provides
counseling and grief support to individuals, families,
and groups of up to six people. Duties may also
include conducting substance abuse or mental
health assessments for purposes of referral.
2. Clinical Behavioral Health Counselor – These
professionals are highly trained and educated
individuals who make client assessments regarding
mental health dysfunctions and treatments.

22. Career profiles in social &
behavioral science
Public Safety
1. Drug Abuse Correctional Treatment Specialist –
Working from inside a federal correctional facility, this
professional provides individual or group therapy
counseling addressing drug addiction and education.

23. Career profiles in social &
behavioral science
Social Services
1. Social Worker – This professional works to enhance
their clients’ well-being and social functioning
using a broad range of strategies. Minimum
requirements include a bachelor’s degree in the
behavioral sciences, while ideal candidates will
have majored in social work and be at least a
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW).

24. Career profiles in social &
behavioral science
Public Policy
1. Drug and Public Health Policy Intern – These
professionals work with national professional
associations to develop and lobby for policies
for the well-being of those suffering from drug
addictions and abuse. Graduate students in
public health or the health sciences are
preferred.

25. IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS
As a behavioral science degree holder you will have options to help
people.
For example;
Probation officer
you can help people to have the resources and direction to get a
second chance at life.
Criminologist
prevention of crime, you can work with police investigating crimes
 Special education teacher
Perhaps you are someone who wants to work with children who have
disabilities, you can help children overcome their challenges to gain
an education and a higher self-esteem.
Grief Counselor
you can help grieving families come to terms with their loss

26. IMPACT ON SOCIETY
One way a behavioral scientist can impact society is by working
with non-profits as a Grant writer who helps to secure funding.
Without grant writing, non-profits who help the homeless and
the hungry wouldn’t have the funding to continue the essential
services they provide.
The impact of a public health educator is very significant and
includes reduction of communicable diseases within their
community by educating the public on healthier decisions and
behaviors. Sometimes courts or schools have positions for
children’s advocates. When children have no voice a children’s
advocate can change a life forever and bring about huge change
to society. There are many positive ways you can help society in
the behavioral sciences. It’s just a matter of finding the program
that works for you.