Human behavior is a manifestation of the totality of all cognitive functions possessed by people due to an evolutionarily developed nervous system capable of simultaneous performance of various tasks. Human behavior is also the result of social factors that influence social aspects. Despite the seeming remoteness of social populations from the spread of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Barry Yeoman’s research shows the opposite result. He shows an example of the need to find a solution to the problem of the spread of STDs resulting from the forced migration of truckers while working (Yeoman, 2004). A healthy society must be shaped by research in the exact sciences and also by sociological research.
The article captures the duality of behavior associated with risk: what and why drives people to engage in sexual encounters if they can be dangerous. First, it is the peculiarities of the organism: the brain and hormonal system are linked; their purpose in reproduction is to preserve valuable genes, that is, to survive under challenging conditions (Yeoman, 2004). The risky behavior of sexual intercourse is probably directly related to natural selection. Secondly, thanks to the point correlation method, it is possible to determine the interaction mechanisms between different populations and establish what STD transmission occurs. The combined assessment of the above provides a complete picture of the causes of the spread of infections in groups with risky lifestyles.
Researchers often face the problem of lack of funding, especially when the topics are acutely social and seemingly unrelated to health. Nevertheless, in the case described by Yeoman, the connection between society and medicine is visible. The established reasons for the involvement of truckers in sexual activity (anxiety, loneliness) result from a lack of knowledge in the field of medical ethics. The spread of dangerous diseases (HIV, gonorrhea, hepatitis) through the trucker population is due to social reasons: the poverty of prostitutes at truck stop stations, the availability of drugs, pimping, and the coercion of women. Based on network mapping, it has been found that truckers are easily exposed to risky behavior because of their profession (Yeoman, 2004). This pattern demonstrates how tightly social populations are intertwined with each other, and the exclusion of this connection leads to an increase in health pathologies.
The research described in this article is an integral part of understanding how modern society functions. In an age in which information about the dangers of risky behavior (unsafe sex, drugs, prostitution, and pornography) is provided, people continue to engage in reckless behavior. Finding out the reasons that drive people to engage in such behavior is the responsibility of both sociology and medicine.
Thus, understanding the connections within a population to avoid the spread of disease is as important as other branches of medicine. A comprehensive approach to analyzing human cognitive function through the study of the neurohumoral system and network mapping yields complete results. Based on these findings, the health care system and national institutions can help improve the epidemiological situation. Creating a healthy population is the responsibility of sociology and medicine, which must cooperate.
Reference
Yeoman, B. (2004). Forbidden science: What can studies of pornography, prostitutes, and seedy truck stops contribute to society? Discover, 25, 59-65.