ANT 3541 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Blurton, Jean Piaget, Mbuti People
Document Summary
Personality changes associated with chronic disease the break down and analysis of a study. Previous to this study only directly brain related diseases were studied in regards to personality change. Chronic disease potentially brings along adjustment periods where people have to adjust to the change of lifestyle. Some people have personal growth after receiving the news of chronic disease. The researchers found that higher levels of diseases were associated with decreased extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. Stroke has the most effect on personality, along with other neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Respiratory disease is extremely debilitating causing a lack of social experiences leading to the decrease of extraversion and openness more than others. The study found that cancer has the least change in the patients - this may be due to that possibility for patients to completely recover from the disease, possibly creating hope for the patients. Evolutionarily we can interpret the withdrawal (introversion) of those with more disease.
