What Is Structural Suffering, and What Is an Ethnographic Example

question 42

Essay

What is structural suffering, and what is an ethnographic example of it?

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Definitions:

Stage of Exhaustion

The phase in stress response where the body and mind are overwhelmed by stressors, leading to reduced function and possible burnout.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A three-stage response (alarm, resistance, exhaustion) that the body goes through when under stress, as proposed by Hans Selye.

Alarm Stage

The initial reaction of the body's stress response system, involving activation of the sympathetic nervous system to prepare to face or flee from a threat.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A part of the autonomic nervous system that activates the body's responses under stress, triggering the fight-or-flight response.