Emergent Properties and the social determinants of HIV:
Abstract
To examine the potential to use emergent properties to explain variance in self-reported risk behaviour (and if already being collected, HIV status) among adolescent respondents
To examine if variance in emergent properties can in part be explained by individuals different interpretations of their environment
Emergent properties: variables which capture individuals experience of their social, economic, cultural and political environment looking out from within their place in that milieu. Examples include hope, happiness and perceived social value. They provide a summary measure of an individuals perception of themselves within their environment. A single emergent property may influence more than one motive. Motives in turn influence behaviour, including risk behaviour. Examining the direct relationship between socio-economic variables and risk behaviour misses out the role of both emergent properties and motives. This makes it difficult to explain variations in response to the same environment and draws attention away from possible points of intervention related to the individuals understanding of their situation.
