1. A Brief History of Institutions The Sick Role Concept

2. What is a Social Institution?
Definition: group of persons banded together for common purposes and having rights, privileges, responsibilities, etc., that are independent from those of individual members.
Community Service Organizations
Educational Institutions
Health Care Institutions
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3. Why Do They Exist? Historically, to help maintain the status quo.
Public Schools
Prisons
Hospitals/clinics
Today?
Some maintain society; some challenge society
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4. What Purpose Do They Serve
What do you think? What purpose do the following organizations serve? What are they supposed to do?
Public education
Prisons
Health care facilities
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5. Structural-Functionalist Theory
A group of researchers, many of whom were sociologists, whose understanding of American society focused on how society maintains the status quo of the society.
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6. Talcott Parsons (1950s) Looked at illness as a social phenomenon
Illness is a deviation from expected behavior and prevents individuals from fulfilling their normal role responsibilities
What are role responsibilities?
Therefore, illness is a different role that we play.
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7. The Sick Role
The Sick Role is a temporary role we take on when we are ill.
We are not held responsible for the fact that we are ill and/or unable to do what we normally do.
Characterized by Rights and Responsibilities:
Rights: things you are allowed to do because you are ill and can’t do what you normally do.
Responsibilities: things you must do because you are ill and, therefore, deviant. (Obligations)
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8. Rights Exempt from “normal” social roles
Depends on the nature and the severity of the illness.
TEMPORARY
Not held responsible for his or her condition
Illness is beyond your control.
Malfunction that needs to be fixed
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9. Obligations/Responsibilities
Must try to get well.
Must view being sick as undesirable
Must seek competent medical help and cooperate with treatment regimen.
To Parsons, this meant going to a physician, and only a physician.
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10. Problems with the Sick Role
Are all illnesses temporary?
Doesn’t apply very well to chronic illnesses or emotional health issues.
Are all illnesses completely not the individual’s fault?
What about addictions?
What about exercise, alcohol, smoking, diet, etc. choices?
Grounded in middle class values
Does everyone have the same values?
Bottom line: patient is passive and just follows the physician’s instructions. No accountability.
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11. Freidson’s Sociological Types of Illness
Adds labeling theory to the mix
3 key variables:
Responsibility of the person for their illness
Seriousness of the illness
How much does it interfere with your life?
Legitimacy
How does society view your illness?
Do you deserve a break today?
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12. Perceived Legitimacy
Conditional legitimacy: Yes, you deserve a break, but it is time-limited.
Unconditional legitimacy: Yes, you get a permanent break, because your condition isn’t going away.
Illegitimate: No breaks. Your condition doesn’t merit any breaks
STIGMA: treated badly by society. Not a full citizen?
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13. Exemptions, Privileges & Obligations
Exemptions: things you don’t have to do because you are sick
Privileges: Things you get to do because you are sick that you wouldn’t normally be allowed to do.
Obligations: responsibilities you have because you are sick
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14. Conditionally Legitimate Unconditionally Legitimate
Legitimacy
Seriousness
Illegitimate
Conditionally Legitimate
Unconditionally Legitimate
Minor Deviation
Exemptions: none
Privileges: none
Obligations: to protect others from your condition
Example: scars
Exemptions: temporary
Privileges: temporary
Obligations: get better and resume normal activities
Example: a cold or flu
Exemptions: Permanent
Privileges: permanent
Obligations: possible, as relevant to the condition
Example: amputation. Permanent disability
Major Deviation
Example: seizure disorder
Obligations: seek appropriate care, get better, and resume normal activities.
Example: Pneumonia
Exemptions: permanent
Privileges: Permanent
Obligations: few, all centered around the condition.
Example: cancer.
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