Week 3 - Barker, Ch. 5 (Biology)

Culture and biology are inextricably interwoven. The science of our bodies, their origin and function affects the way we think, emote and behave. This, in turn, helps shape the cultures we live in. Our health and the way we define health penetrates to the core of who we perceive ourselves to be. This self-perception in turn affects everything from our beliefs about the world to our immune systems. These are complex systems that cannot be understood in reductionist ways - especially in our era of radically changing cultural demands and technology that create more stress and dysfunction.