It is the purpose of this paper to define health as a value, to give the value a specific content and meaning and to discuss the implications of the definition of health for the field of health education. The goal of good health cannot be achieved in societies that live by either the value of competition or collectivism. An alternative value, collaboration, can lead to healthful behavior. Collaboration is defined as involving consciousness, choice, commitment and caring. Health educators who are committed to this value tend to share a social ecological perspective. This perspective requires that they help people challenge health damaging conditions and provide opportunities for them to work toward health promoting activities.
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