Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 73: Old Age, Asthma, Dependency Ratio

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: Dr.Mike

Document Summary

Functionalism if we look at medicine from this point of view, we ask: what is the purpose of medicine. When people become ill medicine ensures they return to functional state so they can become functional to society: being sick is detrimental to well-being of society as a whole. Assumption is you"re not supposed to participate in society when sick, affecting society on small scale. Doctor = help you get better so you can participate in society: medicine institution stabilizes social system in emergency situations like hurricanes/earthquakes, etc. where hospitals/medical professionals provide medical assistance needed to injured. Day-to-day, it improves quality of life for aging population to allow them to contribute longer to society. Factories (want lax regulations) vs. people living nearby (want strict). Social constructionism we attach different meanings to different behaviours, and have preconceptions of different people (stereotypes: we have preconceptions about different races, genders, and subcultures.