SOC 7108 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Sick Role

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 7108
• Professor: Loes Knaapen

Document Summary

Two traditions have been available to doctors interested in chronic illness with the first taking an origin from parsons conception of illness and the individualistic sick role. However, it appears to deny any of parsons assumptions regarding the traditional pattern of being sick while it further suggests separating and developing deviance with an adaptive perspective. This is thought to take away the limitation of overemphasizing acute illness and the sick role. The insights have helped with disclosing symptoms but it only gave reference to greater theoretical concerns. For example, while it is normal for persons to withdraw from interaction when they are unwell which is seen as understandable but says there are deeper implications. The second tradition takes into consideration of interacting with nature. The idea here is a that chronic illness is a type of experience where everyday life matters are disrupted.