BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie

actual and overt functions. The appellative (conative) function is
manifested directly in "Go answer the door" and indirectly in "The
doorbell rang" (which is equivalent to "Go answer the door"), where the
overt function is the referential (or informative) function. In addition, we
need to distinguish between cause and effect functions, as well as ends and
means functions (the ends being the effect that is sought). For example,
when the phatic function (cause) is overactivated, it can trigger the poetic
function (effect); overactivation can be used for esthetic ends, and in this
case the poetic function is an end and the phatic function is a means.
4.4. Communication and Health
Communication is a means of survival. This statement is not just a
metaphor it is a conclusion based on the empirical studies. Without any
form of communication humans cannot live. Lack of communication or
inefficient communication could injure seriously the quality human life
and health. Public Health surveys show that:
People who lack strong relationships have 2 - 3 times the risk of
early death, regardless of whether or not they smoke or drink.
Terminal cancer strikes socially isolated people more often than
those who have close personal relationships.
Divorced, separated, and widowed people are 5 - 10 times more
likely to need hospitalization for mental problems than their married
counterparts.
Pregnant women under stress and without supportive
relationships have three times more complications than pregnant women
who suffer from the same amount of stress but have strong social
support.
Studies show that social isolation is a major risk factor
contributing to coronary disease, comparable to physiological factors
such a s diet, smoking, obesity an lack of physical activity socially
isolated people are four times more susceptible to the common cold than
those who have active social networks
When the subject of communication and health is discussed of
interest is not only the impact of communication as such on the individual
health but rather the importance of communication to disease prevention,
health promotion, health care policy, and the business of health care as
well as enhancement of the quality of life and health of individuals within
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