Critically evaluate the contribution made by sociologists to our understanding of health and illness
Critically evaluate the contribution made by sociologists to our understanding of health and illness
Sociology, the study of society and social behaviour of groups, at various levels and from different perspectives, from solid interpretations to generalisations. It can vary from the study of two individuals encounter to the analysis of global social processes. There are three main areas of sociology, social structures such as education, family and social stratification, social systems for example culture and identity and social issues such as the causes of crime and the impact of unemployment. It is difficult to define society, other than as a number of people who live in the same territory, participate in common culture and are relatively independent of people outside it. Individuals and societies have different views of defining health and illness, considering how it allows one to function, the means of improving and maintaining health and whether it extends beyond the physical domain, dependent on the culture, age, gender and class. There are three main concepts of health, the holistic concept views the whole person, mind, body, spiritual health and social well-being, seeing health as being emotionally comfortable, and clear of physical disorders and diseases. Individuals with a positive concept of health believe that by keeping a healthy diet and keeping fit that they are within good health, feeling actively responsible for ones health and guilty when becoming unwell. Whereas a negative concept of health views health as an absence of illness or disease, taking good health for granted and believing that no special actions are required to remain healthy. Within the sociological study of health there are two main models; firstly the biological model; which views how a medical professional views the body as a machine and the professionals role is to repair the disorder. The professional believes that if incorrectly maintained, the body will deteriorate. The role
Sociology, the study of society and social behaviour of groups, at various levels and from different perspectives, from solid interpretations to generalisations. It can vary from the study of two individuals encounter to the analysis of global social processes. There are three main areas of sociology, social structures such as education, family and social stratification, social systems for example culture and identity and social issues such as the causes of crime and the impact of unemployment. It is difficult to define society, other than as a number of people who live in the same territory, participate in common culture and are relatively independent of people outside it. Individuals and societies have different views of defining health and illness, considering how it allows one to function, the means of improving and maintaining health and whether it extends beyond the physical domain, dependent on the culture, age, gender and class. There are three main concepts of health, the holistic concept views the whole person, mind, body, spiritual health and social well-being, seeing health as being emotionally comfortable, and clear of physical disorders and diseases. Individuals with a positive concept of health believe that by keeping a healthy diet and keeping fit that they are within good health, feeling actively responsible for ones health and guilty when becoming unwell. Whereas a negative concept of health views health as an absence of illness or disease, taking good health for granted and believing that no special actions are required to remain healthy. Within the sociological study of health there are two main models; firstly the biological model; which views how a medical professional views the body as a machine and the professionals role is to repair the disorder. The professional believes that if incorrectly maintained, the body will deteriorate. The role