How has studying social and behavioral sciences contributed to understanding public health? Provide examples of how socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and community resources affect health. Which factor do you think is most difficult to change? Why?Understanding environment and social behavior helps to understand the development of public health. According to chapter 4 of the text the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States lead to the development of social and behavioral sciences. This was an effort to address civil rights or equal social justice. The “socioeconomic status” categorized groups of people by their socioeconomic standing, including income, education and profession. Health and life expectancy are tied to economic status, the richest having a greater life expectancy than the poor. Wealth is associated with healthier living conditions with better access to health care. Healthier living conditions are considered less crowded living conditions, better sanitation, including safer cooking habits. Education is also a consideration when considering healthier groups of individuals. The higher the education indicates better income and better resources for living well and access to health care. Culture and religion also affect health and life expectancy and may be the most difficult to change. Some religious beliefs do not allow individuals to use condoms or other modern methods of preventing or treating diseases. I believe religious and cultural beliefs are tremendously powerful influences that are very difficult to overcome or change. The text in chapter 4 refersto marketing campaigns reaching target audiences such as cigarette smokers. If marketing can get them to start smoking, it would only make sense that marketing might get them to stop! Reference:University of Phoenix. (2010) Public Health 2010 Chapter 4 Social Behavioral Sciences and Public Health. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, HCS 457 website.Response 2How has studying social and behavioral sciences contributed to understanding public health? "Social and behavioral sciences and public health share a fundamental belief that understanding the organization and motivation behind social forces, along with a better understanding of the behavior of individuals, can be used to improve the lives of individuals, as well as those of society as a whole" ( Riegelman, 2010, p.56). What this says to me is, the better we hear and understand the needs of the public, the better public health can provide specific aspects to improve or protect the health status of a given population.Provide examples of how socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and community resources affect health. "The greater the economic level, the healthier the overall living conditions available to the individual. Elevated economic status allows for better sanitation systems, less crowded livingconditions, and better health care, all of these areas are consistently elevated within higher levels of economic status. Advanced levels of education can be associated with behaviors thatprovide protection against disease or reduce exposure to behaviors that put individuals at risk of disease. Culture defines what is good or bad, and what is healthy and unhealthy. Culture directly affects the daily habits of life" ( Riegelman, 2010, p.56- 57). It is the educators who provide guidance and the "Robin Hood" aspect of public health. Public Health leaders attempt to protect the populations who do not know how to protect themselves. Public health leaders provide, channel, and educate the uneducated bringing themto a better life. Which factor do you think is most difficult to change? Why? At first I agreed with the text, thinking a psychological addition such as cigarette smoking would be the most difficult. I say this because I am an ex- smoker. According to our text I have beaten the odds for quitting. In giving it more thought, I think any behavior which conflicts with the culture an individual is brought up in, is bound to be the most difficult. I say this because of the influence of our growth and developmental experiences, the life cycle and how we value life, and the need for social acceptance in the cultures we are raised in. (FYI: I was brought up to know and understand smoking is wrong). ReferenceRiegelman, R.K. (2010). Public health 101. Healthy people-- healthy populations. Sudbury,Ma: Jones and