From mechanistic to holistic concepts of health: The paradigm shift in Western society

The study examined the emerging paradigm shift in health in Western society. The concept of a paradigm shift was formalized in Kuhn's 1962 work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Although Kuhn focused primarily on science in his discussion of the concept, it has since been applied to almost every discipline in Western society. In this study, the concept of a paradigm is equated with a "world view.". The current shift in world views was characterized as the movement from a mechanistic, reductionist perspective to a holistic, interconnected understanding of life. The holistic world view does not replace the mechanistic perspective, but expands upon it. In fact, to some, "the ultimate triumph of reductionist physics is to demonstrate the necessity of a new paradigm" (Harman, 1988, p. 106). A "medical" example of the importance of the mechanistic perspective as part of the holistic paradigm can be found in the ever-present need for acute care, including surgical procedures. It was the lack of balance in the approach to health and medical care, however, between mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual components of the individual that was implicated in the study. The need for a new paradigm has been reinforced by numerous studies showing that one's thoughts and emotions precede chemical activity in the body, and that feelings of support and connection to others can influence both the quality and quantity of life. These findings have often been represented as part of the "mind-body connection," but such a phrase is merely the popularized way of describing the intricate relationship among the various aspects of the individual, or the wholeness of the human being. Interviews were held with individuals who have been leaders of the new health paradigm. These interviews suggested that a broader view of health and human existence is, indeed, part of the greater paradigm shift occurring in society. Most related that a holistic approach to health implies that individual health is intimately connected to the health of the community, and to the entire planet, and that improvement in the health of all is the only way that individual health can truly improve.