Can You Answer the Following Questions Based on Sociology Flashcards

Talcott Parsons; A model developed in the 1950s based on chronic, trivial, and severe illnesses. It is the role given to those who experience illness beyond the physical condition of a sick state- it constitutes a social role because behaviors are shaped by institutional expectations and reinforced by the norms of society. It's based on the assumption that being sick is not deliberate or a choice of that person.

1. Sick persons are exempt from "normal" social roles. (Relative to the nature & severity of the illness, "legitimation" of sickness protects the equilibrium of society.) 2. Sick persons are not responsible for their condition. (One's will-power is not enough to change their physical state.) 3. Sick persons should try to get well. (Relies on one's recognition that their role & state of being are viewed as undesirable, hence obligating them to try to get better.) 4. Sick persons should seek technically competent help and cooperate with physicians. (The most necessary components of the process to getting well.)

1. The patient's experience and account of subjective feelings of illness. 2. Findings of the physician through examination and/or lab. testing which confirm a patient's disordered body function. 3. The patient's symptoms conform to a recognizable clinical pattern, serving as representation of a model or theory of disease held by the diagnostician.

Disease- an adverse physical state; consists of a physiological dysfunction. Illness- a subjective state; an individual's psychological awareness of having a disease (usually causing them to have to modify their behaviors). Sickness- a social state; an impaired social role deemed to those who are ill as formalized by the norms and expectations set forth in their society.

A view that society is held together by the equilibrium of harmonious patterns arising from a shared set of norms and values; a belief in societal-level processes, systems, and interrelationships which represent a homeostatic approach to deviance.

Social systems are composed of various closely connected parts; therefore, changes w/in one part of the system will, to some degree, affect all other parts. "Sickness" threatens the stability of an otherwise healthy and functioning society. (The medical profession serves to offest this imbalance with the prevention of disease and discovery of cures.)

The sick role evolves a set of expectations that define the norms appropriate to being sick, both for the ind. and for those who interact w/ them. A mutuality develops between the physician and patient in which they are familiar with their own, and others', expectations of behavior. *The physician's role is to return the sick to his/her normal state of functioning; the patient's role depends upon the physician's concept of them and their capability to get well.

1. They expect to be taken care of, rather than being able to take care of themselves. 2. They get the privelege of taking time off of work or school to deal with side effects of their sickness. 3. Some do not recieve the benefits of the "sick role" is society deems them illegitimate to make those claims.

The role a physician plays in interaction with their patients; they're expected to place the needs of a patient above all other concerns and act according to the medical code of ethics. (Advtg: the unusual access to a patient's body and mind, the benefits that come with being a "professional" like medical decision-making power and authority & respect from society.)

A critique based on the theory's lack of uniformity among various persons and social groups. It is believed that an "impaired role" emerges when a prognosis is not believed to be serious and normal role duties are expected to be carried out, despite one's sickness.

He distinguished differences in people's responses and attitudes regarding pain. Jews and Italians were most sensitive: Jews were highly emotional at home and in the hospital, while Italians were only emotional in the hospital. Protestants ("Old Americans") avoided expressing pain in public and were reserved in doing so at home. Jews and Protestants were concerned about the significance of pain and the effect it may have on thier general health. However, Jews were reluctant to recieve medication and had little faith in the physicians. Protestants trusted doctors and that medicine could help them. Italians were also confident in their physician's care, but were most concerned with the pain itself and sought treatment strictly to relieve pain/discomfort.

He found that there are distinct differences between the way in which cultural groups communicate complaints about health. Americans of Irish descent had a tendency to deny their symptoms. Those of Italian descent tended to dramatize their symptoms. And those of Anglo-Saxon descent tended to speak of their health issues in a detached and neutral manner.

He reported 7 different configurations of the sick role. He believed Parson's model applied highly to Jews yet ostracized Protestants and Italian Catholics. The first signs of illness recognized by each differed between groups: Jews emphasize fear of eventual outcomes, Protestants emphasize functional incapacity, and Italian Catholics emphasize changes in feeling states (like pain).

He believes that parents do make a difference in socializing their children to handle/react to emotions. In this way he supports Zborowski's finding on "Old Americans" and that they have a tendency to reject the sick role. His participants were generally of higher socioeconomic status (as are doctors) and responded in ways in which they thought members of the medical profession would approve; they took a "business-as-usal" approach to illness.

A critique Parson's theory for being applicable only to acute diseases (which are temporary, recognizable, and overcome with a physician's help). Research shows that those w/ chronic diseases, like cancer, view the "sick role" much differently from those w/ acute diseases. Chronic disease patients cannot be expected to get well or be satisfied by few, temporary exemptions from normal responsibilities. Parson suggests that these can be "managed" so the patient maintains normal physiological and social functioning, but that is not true for situations in which they are bedridden, terminally ill, or mentally ill.