1. The ‘sick role’ revisited
Understanding and misunderstanding Parsons’ contribution

2. Talcott Parsons 1902-1979 Topics: social action / social system
Fields: economics, politics, culture, health system
Publications:
Structure of social action (1938)
Social system (1951)
Toward a general theory of action (1951)
Social structure and personality (1964)
Harvard professor:
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3. ESHHS - August 2006

4. Health, illness and the social system
Achievement: health and motivation
Illness
as incapacity  sick role
as deviance  passive withdrawal
as a psychosomatic issue
Social system
doctor and patiënt as a collectivity
checks and balances
unconscious psychotherapy
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5. The sick role Exemption from duties Unwilful deviance
Intention to get well
Seek professional help
Temporary regression
Fears and irrational beliefs
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6. The doctor’s role Welfare-oriented Maintain professional standards
Right to enter privacy
Exclusiveness of care
Regulation motivational balances
Secondary gain and countertransference
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7. Critical reception Parsons: Idealizes medical practice and profession
Overemphasizes normalization
Underestimates conflict
Parsons: a ‘reactionary functionalist’?
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8. Parsons revisited The limits of medical technology
The role of the social and behavioural sciences
Evidence versus experience based interventions
The optimistic bias
The rise and decline of medical power
The medicalization of almost everything, yet:
Withering of trust in the consulting room
Decline of professional autonomy
The power of theory
ESHHS - August 2006