Chapter 1 Flashcards
1
Q
Objectives
A
- Discuss various definitions of health and wellness
- Differentiate between the medical model and sociological model approaches to health
- Evaluate the quality of online sources
2
Q
Defining Health
A
- The definition of health is abstract/evolving/individual and influenced by a number of factors
- Health is only one piece of the puzzle.
- Health is subjective: you need to listen to the individual’s story and how they perceive health.
3
Q
Wellness
A
- Takes more of an individualistic and subjective view
- It is relevant to the lived experience of the individual
- Assumes self-reliance/responsibility and accountability
- Achieving and sustaining “positive health”
4
Q
Medical Model
A
- Individualize and depoliticize
- 4 assumptions
o Mind-body dualism. The mind is separate from the body, so you can treat the body without engaging the mind. Matter > Mind.
o Doctrine of specific etiology. For every disease, there’s a specific cause. Diagnostic tools > patients report. Doctors > everyone else. Medicine = cure.
o Biological reductionism. The disease is within the body. Focuses on the body when treating illness, ignores social context in which the illness occurs.
o Body as a machine. Bodies are to be fixed when broken, the only broken part should be treated. Slow recovery blamed on the patient.
♣ Medical specialization focuses on smaller parts to the exclusion of the whole.
5
Q
Sociological Perspective
A
- Health and illness can’t be understood in reference to biology alone: social context is key.
- Illness is socially patterned (appears twice in pp)
- Dealing and accepting illness is a social experience.
- C. Wright Mills: a sociological perspective involves framing problems as public issues rather than personal troubles
6
Q
3 Broad Sociological Perspectives
A
- structural functionalism
- conflict theory
- social constructionism
7
Q
Structural Functionalism
A
- Social arrangements exist because they benefit society.
- Each part contributes to the well-being of the whole (functional interdependence)
- Equilibrium: peace, consensus and harmony are the natural states of society
o A disruption in any area is felt across the whole of society - Social change is gradual, typically in the direction of greater differentiation and functional integration
8
Q
Talcott Parsons
A
Devised the sick role
9
Q
Sick Role
A
- Illness is a form of deviance because it prevents people from fulfilling their social roles
- Social control and regulation of sickness is brought about by the sick role mechanism
o Societies perception on sickness helps define the sick role - Both the patient and the physician have certain rights and obligations
10
Q
Patient Expectations in the Sick Role
A
- Individual must want to get well
- Individual must seek and comply with treatment
11
Q
Patient Privileges in the Sick Role
A
- Individual is not held responsible for being sick
- Individual is exempted from normal obligations while sick
12
Q
Physician Expectations of the Sick Role
A
- Physician must be technically competent
- Physician must maintain neutrality
13
Q
Physician Privileges of the Sick Role
A
- Physician has autonomy and is self-regulating
- Physician is allowed access to the patients body
14
Q
Criticisms of the Sick Role Theory
A
- Going to see the doctor may be the end process of a complex help-seeking behaviour
- Idealized view of the sick role: assumes there is no conflict between doctor and patient
- Assume that all illness is acute and temporary
- Sick role varies by class, race, gender and occupation
15
Q
Conflict Theory
A
- Rather than harmony, society is characterized by conflict and exploitation
- Society is comprised of diverse social groups fighting for dominance and resources
- Appearance of consensus is the result of coercion or a false consciousness.
o Lack of awareness that one is being exploited - Disease is the result of differential access to power
- Those with the fewest resources are most vulnerable to disease
o Those who are labeled as ill are denied access to resources and power - Examples. Feminist theory, political economy
