social models of health and illness

Question 1

sociology a study of society including…

Answer 1

1. historical factors (how past influence present)
2. cultural factors (how culture impacts our lives)
3. structural factors (how forms of social organization shape our lives)
4. critical factors (how we can improve upon what exists)

Question 2

sociology of health

Answer 2

-social determinants, patterns, and experiences of health and illness
-explores how society (norms, interactions, relationships) shapes and constrains individual health

Question 3

theory

Answer 3

-an explanation of how things work and why things happen
-used to show the way certain facts are connected to one another
-attempt to explain social life
-“theoretical perspective” = groups of similar theories (all share core features of the particular persepctive)

Question 4

what distinguishes different theories from each other

Answer 4

1. how they conceptualize society
2. the questions they ask
3. their ultimate goal (understand or change society)
4. where they sit in relation to the structure vs agency debate

Question 5

agency

Answer 5

freedom of choice

Question 6

structure

Answer 6

choices/life chances determined by their social position
- also called determinism

Question 7

theoretical perspective

Answer 7

the lens we bring to the world
-questions that sociologists explore differ depending on the theoretical perspective they adopt

Question 8

structural functionalism **

Answer 8

-society is “a system of integrated parts, each of which have certain needs (or “functional prerequisites) that must be fulfilled for society order to be maintained”
-how parts of society function to maintain social order and social stability
- “consensus theory/systems theory/functionalism

Question 9

assumptions of structural functionalism

Answer 9

1. society made of of interelated parts
2. each part has a function, each one work to ensure stability/cohesion of society
3. when all parts fulfill function, society is in normal state
4. if not, in abnormal/pathological state
5. value consensus-> stability and cohesion maintained by shared beliefs and norms
6. social integration -> individuals internalize shared beliefs and norms
7. social systems are stable, change only occurs gradualy

Question 10

role of health care professionals in struc func

Answer 10

to rehabilitate individuals to carry out their social roles/functions
-keep society stable and moving by fixing issues of sick members

Question 11

sick role (key concept of structural functionalism)

Answer 11

need to be healthy to do work
-illness threatens smooth functioning of society-> prevents people from fulfilling their roles
-parsons developed concept of sick role to “describe social expectations of how sick people are expected to act and how they are meant to be treated”

Question 12

sick role rights and responsibilities

Answer 12

rights
1. except from normal social role (stay away)
2. sick person is not responsible for their condition
responsibilities
1. sick person should try to get well
2. sick person should seek medical help and cooperate with professionals

Question 13

sick role critiques

Answer 13

1. concept does not apply to chronic, terminal and permanently disabling conditions
2. the ability to adopt the sick role delimited by one’s social position
3. need to differentiate bw informal sick role and formal patient role
4. uncritically accepts role of health care professionals and fails to acknowledge the limitations of the biomedical model of health

Question 14

critiques of structural functionalism

Answer 14

1. unable to account for social change due to its emphasis on stability, cohesion and functionality
2. does not adress conflicts
3. assumes a level playing field (i.e. does not account for inequality
4. By overlooking the negative implications of social order, justifies the status quo

Question 15

marxist theory (aka conflict ) ***

Answer 15

-foundational theorists Karl Marx and Friederich Engels
-“power” is based on ones position (social class) and ones control of capital (resources)
-class/economic-based dynamics, social injustice and exploitation of some to benefit of other

Question 16

marxism assumptions

Answer 16

1. access to resources unequally distributed
2. society characterized by injustice and exploitation
3. conflict always present -> instability/change
4. coercion always present -> some people have more power than others

Question 17

marxist perspective on health and illness

Answer 17

focus on impact of working and living conditions to capitalist societies and how these contribute to illness

Question 18

role of health care professionals marxist theory

Answer 18

-to discipline and control the working class
-provide individualized explanations of disease
-serve class interest
-> by placing profit maximization -> access to optimal health care
-> by masking the real causes of illness-> supporting the capitalist system

Question 19

“commodity”

Answer 19

a product/entity that can be bought or sold

Question 20

marxist commodification of health care

Answer 20

focus on profit, health as a profit generator

Question 21

application of marxism to health example

Answer 21

black lung
-symptoms blamed on lifestyle not working conditions
-poor workers had less access to health care and good working condition
-company managements primary goal = make money (at expense of workers health)
-workers had little power
-change brought about by class conflict

Question 22

marxism critiques

Answer 22

although the theory explains inequality in terms of social class, does not account for other forms of inequality
-gender
-age
-sexuality
-ethnicity/culture/race
-ability

Question 23

social stratification (marxism)

Answer 23

a society’s categorization of its people into rankings based on factors like wealth, income, education, family background, and power

Question 24

sample questions for using structural functionalism to understand health

Answer 24

-how and when does illness threaten the function of a system (a society)
-what are the components (parts) of a health care system
-what are the threats to the smooth functioning of the canadian healthcare system
-what is required to return to “normal” functioning

Question 25

sample questions for using marxism to understand health

Answer 25

who has access to healthcare and who does not?
who has the resources to live a healthy lifestyle and who does not?
who benefits from decisions related to the provision of healthcare and who does not?
who profits from the poor health of others

Question 26

key debate in sociology

Answer 26

extent to which human behaviour is determined by social structure (=societal forces, not organization/routine)
-do people have agency or are choices/life chances determined by social position

Question 27

agency

Answer 27

freedom of choice

Question 28

theoretical perspective

Answer 28

groups of similar theories (all share core features of that particular prespective)