Abstract
My thesis explores a random sampling of middle class American Christian youth at The College of Wooster on their views of cancer and cancer treatment. My survey asks the students to define cancer and describe what it looks like, describe how a medical physician would define cancer, how the body fights cancer, how one gets cancer, who gets cancer, if they have known anyone that has had cancer, what treatments were used, how they would treat cancer, are they aware of guided imagery as a form of treatment, and (after explaining this treatment) do they think it would work. After examining and analyzing the data on the students, I apply theories from current literature that best illustrate the role society plays in determining our concepts of disease, specifically cancer. I also explore a healing technique called guided imagery, which can be used therapeutically in order to help cancer patients cope with their diagnosis and treatment, and sometimes even heal the patient.
Advisor
Frese, Pamela
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Olin, Martha E., "The Insidious Black Blob: Harnessing the Power of the Imagination With a Better Understanding of American Culture's Definitions and Identification of Cancer and Cancer Treatment" (1996). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6310.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6310
Publication Date
1996
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 1996 Martha E. Olin