chapter 14

Question 1

obesity

Answer 1

excessive body weight indicated by body mass index

Question 2

sociology of the body

Answer 2

field that focuses on how our bodies are affected by social influences. health and illness are shaped by social and cultural influences

Question 3

socialization of nature

Answer 3

the process by which we control phenomena regarded as “natural”, such as reproduction

Question 4

sick role

Answer 4

a term associated with the functionalist Talcott Parsons to describe the patterns of behavior that a sick person adopts in order to minimize the disruptive impact of his or her illness on others

Question 5

stigma

Answer 5

any physical or social characteristic that is labeled by societies as undesirable

Question 6

complementary and alternative medicine

Answer 6

a diverse set of approaches and therapies for treating different illnesses and promoting well-being that generally falls outside of standard medicine practices

Question 7

biomedical model of health

Answer 7

the set of principles underpinning western medical systems and practices. defines diseases objectively in accordance with the presence of recognized symptoms, and holds that the body can be restored through scientifically based medical treatment

Question 8

homophobia

Answer 8

an irrational fear or disdain of homosexuals