The sick role is a
concept that concerns the social aspects of becoming ill and the privileges and obligations that come with it
. Essentially, Parsons argued, a sick individual is not a productive member of society and therefore this type of deviance needs to be policed by the medical profession.
The sick role is a
concept that concerns the social aspects of becoming ill and the privileges and obligations that come with it
. Essentially, Parsons argued, a sick individual is not a productive member of society and therefore this type of deviance needs to be policed by the medical profession.
Why is the sick role important?
The sick role derives certain expectations that
represent the norms appropriate to being sick
, with its primary function to control the disruptive effect of illness in society by ensuring that those who do become ill are returned to a state of health as quickly as possible.
What is meant by sick role in sociology?
the behavior expected of a person who is physically ill, mentally ill, or injured
. Such expectations can be the individual’s own or those of the family, the community, or society in general.
What are the factors that influence sick role?
For example, social factors (i.e.,
sex, age, marital status, employment status, education, income
) along with cultural factors (religion, ethnicity) combine to give meaning to lay defmitions of health and illness and ultimately to variations in the exemption of the sick individual from responsibility for the condition …
What are the rights and obligations of a sick person?
The two rights are: (1) the sick person is exempt from normal social roles; and (2) the sick person is not responsible for their condition. And the two obligations are:
(1) the sick person should try to get well
; and (2) the sick person should seek technically competent help and cooperate with the medical professional.
What are the criticisms of the sick role?
Feminists have also criticised Parsons’ theory of the sick role. Ann Oakley (1974) suggested that the rights of the sick role were not afforded to women in the same way they are for men. When a
woman is ill
they are rarely excused from their ‘normal social role’ of being the housekeeper / mother.
What is the role of the patient?
“patient” are
to follow the orders they receive
. They are cast into the role of recipient and so they are not expected to give orders or to take the initiative in any respect.
What is stage of illness?
The five periods of disease (sometimes referred to as stages or phases) include the
incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, and convalescence periods
(Figure 2). The incubation period occurs in an acute disease after the initial entry of the pathogen into the host (patient).
What is the sick role example?
Sick-role behaviour is an ‘activity undertaken for the purposes of getting well by those who consider themselves ill’ (Kasl and Cobb, 1966). It can involve, for example,
seeking medical advice, taking time off work and relinquishing responsibility for one’s own care to friends or family
.
What is the difference between the sick role and the illness experience?
While the sick role refers to outward behaviors, the term illness experience describes how
an individual adjusts to interruptions to their health
.
What are the rights of the sick?
Parsons describes two rights and two responsibilities that an ill person has:
a patient has a right not to be blamed for her illness and a right to be given some leeway by others in regards to normal obligations
.
Does the sick role apply to all illnesses?
The
sick person is temporarily exempt from performing ‘normal’ social roles
(such as going to work or housekeeping). The more severe the sickness, the greater the exemption. 2. A genuine illness is seen as beyond the control of the sick person and not curable by simple willpower and motivation.
Would argue that since the sick are unable to fulfill their normal societal roles their sickness weakens the society?
Parsons
argues that since the sick are unable to fulfill their normal societal roles, their sickness weakens the society. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary for various forms of social control to bring the behavior of a sick person back in line with normal expectations.
What does the idea of a sick role suggest quizlet?
The sick role evokes
a set of patterned expectations that define the norms and values appropriate to being sick
, both for the individual and for others who interact with the person.
