Individuals and groups living in high risk conditions often internalize the unfairness of their social circumstances, and blame themselves for their situation. These reactions are reinforced by our culture’s emphasis on individual freedom and responsibility. What remains hidden is the degree to which our society’s economic and political practices and our dominant ideologies structure our living and working conditions (Labonte, 1997). As a result, self-blame increases feelings of powerlessness and other psychosocial risk factors which are associated with poorer health outcomes. Further research reveals that often people living in high risk conditions adopt unhealthy lifestyles as a way to cope with or bring pleasure to their undesirable situation (Labonte, 1997). For many, the adoption of a healthier lifestyle is of lower priority than the need to address the basics of housing, transportation, food security, etc. (Labonte, 1997). All of these factors serve to increase the prevalence of health threatening physiological risk factors of people living in high risk conditions.