Sociology Flashcards
social constructionism
macro perspective
Reality is constructed, or established, through one’s interactions with society and culture - depends upon the culture and times that we live in.
knowledge is constructed in a social context and interactions
suggests various facets of social reality—such as concepts, beliefs, norms, and values—are formed through continuous interactions and negotiations among society’s members, rather than empirical observation of physical reality
social norms and gender roles
social constructs
health beliefs
Symbolic interactionism
micro perspective
society is made up of the every day interactions between people
emphasizes subjective experience of reality and how individuals assign meaning to symbols and language.
Individuals have their own sets of ‘rules’ for interpreting the world around them
Mead and Weber
Goffman - stigma
labelling theory
deviance
Structural functionalism
society is made up of a series of components which have functions. these components work together to maintain social order and stability.
social structures e.g. the family have functions e.g. to raise and socialize children
positivism
Comte and Durkheim
sick role - Parsons
Professions
doctor-patient roles
role of medicine in society
conflict theory
conflict is a natural part of society
society is made up of different groups competing for scarce resources
social order maintained by domination and power by one group
social change happens through struggles/conflict between groups
Marx
health inequalities
medicine as a dominant force
Social norms theory
Social norms interventions attempt to modify perceptions of what behavior is normative as a means of influencing actual behavior.
key points:
individuals incorrectly perceive that the attitudes or behaviors of others are different from their own, when in reality they are similar.
This may lead individuals to adjust their behavior to that of the presumed majority by adhering to the pseudo-norms created by observing such memorable behavior. These exaggerated perceptions, or rather misperceptions, of peer behavior will continue to influence the habits of the majority, if they are unchallenged
It highlights the gap between perceived norms (what people think others do) and actual norms (what people actually do).
Public health interventions use Social Norms Theory to correct misperceptions and promote healthier behaviors. For example, if people believe that binge drinking is more common than it actually is, they may be more likely to engage in it. By providing accurate data, interventions can help shift behavior toward healthier norms
social iatrogenesis
“the ways in which the social organisation of healthcare becomes a causal factor in the experience of ill health
- expanding nature of medicine that accompanies the industrialization of society. This will create an artificial need of industry for its product which will encourage people to become consumers of curative, preventive, industrial and environmental medicine - open to exploitation e.g. big pharma.
This will result in medicine undermining people’s ability to manage their own health, and to cope with pain, suffering and death
e.g. overmedicalisation of childbirth
medicalisation of children’s behaviour - ADHA
clinical iatrogenesis
clinical iatrogenesis – whereby medical treatment worsens existing illness
or indeed creates new illness. There is a higher risk of this when people become increasingly dependent on
medicines, procedures and hospital admission to manage poor health.
Structural iatrogenesis
diminishing role of traditional and social coping mechanisms -
increasing reliance of people on technology and professionally led response to illness, pain and death and
diminishing the value of other lay-informed responses.
