Sociological Perspectives On Health And Social Care
Discussion Question #1: Choose any current social problem that interests you and explain it from each of the sociological perspectives as explained in the two part presentation and the assigned article.
The current social problem that interests me is healthcare in the United States. I see physicians and healthcare institutions raking in large sums of money for the care that they give patients, whether the care is good or bad. This cost of this care is out of reach for us, unless we are lucky enough to have healthcare insurance. I consider this system a significant social problem, and one that can be looked at from all three sociological perspectives.
Functionalism demonstrates how different factors work together to promote the stability of society (Colomy, n/a). How does healthcare fit in here? We have to look at the way healthcare affects and is affected by changes in society. A prime example of this is how modernization and industrialization has increased the quality of life for people around the globe. It has also created a major health concern – environmental pollution. It is definitely a social institution that functions to improved and maintain the well-being of society and the social system as a whole (Mooney, et al, 2010). …show more content…
The conflict theory looks at whether institutions are balances with each other or this based upon power distribution that allows some institutions dominate others (Colomy, n/a).
The healthcare system in the U.S. reflects the inequalities in our society today. Due to the healthcare bureaucracies and the privatization of the system, the cost of healthcare has risen for years. The poor and those who are not offered insurance as a part of their benefits packages at work suffer due to this inequality. There is also an inequality in the distribution of healthcare by region. Those who live in rural areas for instance, have a higher likelihood of death due to the distance between their homes and the closest healthcare
facility.
How does symbolic interactionism apply to healthcare? We have to look at how healthcare relates to each of us (Colomy, n/a). Illnesses may be societal related. Physicians, nurses, and other professionals can be guilty of patronizing patients (CBSNews.com, 2004). If more healthcare providers were to take on the role of a patient on a regular basis, it might lessen the chances of this happening.
CBS.com. (2004). Doctors patronizing seniors? Retrieved from www.cbsnews/video/watch/?id=598638n
Colomy P. (n/a). The big three: Social perspectives.
Mooney A, Knox D, & Schacht C. (2010). Understanding social problems. Florence, KY. Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Discussion Question # 2: Choose any event from the 1960 Timeline under Reading tab. Explain how you think that event influenced our lives in today's global society.
Discussion Question 2: How Satellites Launched in 1960 Influenced Our Lives Today
Tiros 1, the first weather satellite, collected and transmitted photographs of Earth’s cloud patterns. These photographs helped researchers learn the part that clouds play in Earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight into space, which cools the planet’s surface. The data collected encouraged scientists to launch other weather satellites into orbit to help meteorologists improve weather forecasting and understand the development, growth, movement of large storm systems. The data from Tiros 1 and its successors have positively influenced our lives today. One prime example is how the data collected on large storm systems like hurricanes has helped predict everything from wind and wave effects on the shoreline to where landfall will occur. While it is still not an exact science, the ability to narrow the areas that will be affected has helped with storm preparations and has saved many lives (encyclopedia.com, 2011).
Transat 1-b, the first navigation satellite, transformed navigation on the Earth’s oceans. It was the first all weather, reliable, accurate navigation information for ships. It pioneered space technology, as it modified time and frequency standards and it had the first computer technology sent into space. It advanced knowledge of the Earth’s gravitational field. The technology used to create the satellite spurred the development many devices, including the rechargeable cardiac pacemaker, implantable medicine pumps, and implantable defibrillators (jhuapl.edu, 2011).
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"Atmosphere Observation." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. 2002. Retrieved March 05, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3438100076.html
http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/Transit/
The current social problem that interests me is healthcare in the United States. I see physicians and healthcare institutions raking in large sums of money for the care that they give patients, whether the care is good or bad. This cost of this care is out of reach for us, unless we are lucky enough to have healthcare insurance. I consider this system a significant social problem, and one that can be looked at from all three sociological perspectives.
Functionalism demonstrates how different factors work together to promote the stability of society (Colomy, n/a). How does healthcare fit in here? We have to look at the way healthcare affects and is affected by changes in society. A prime example of this is how modernization and industrialization has increased the quality of life for people around the globe. It has also created a major health concern – environmental pollution. It is definitely a social institution that functions to improved and maintain the well-being of society and the social system as a whole (Mooney, et al, 2010). …show more content…
The conflict theory looks at whether institutions are balances with each other or this based upon power distribution that allows some institutions dominate others (Colomy, n/a).
The healthcare system in the U.S. reflects the inequalities in our society today. Due to the healthcare bureaucracies and the privatization of the system, the cost of healthcare has risen for years. The poor and those who are not offered insurance as a part of their benefits packages at work suffer due to this inequality. There is also an inequality in the distribution of healthcare by region. Those who live in rural areas for instance, have a higher likelihood of death due to the distance between their homes and the closest healthcare
facility.
How does symbolic interactionism apply to healthcare? We have to look at how healthcare relates to each of us (Colomy, n/a). Illnesses may be societal related. Physicians, nurses, and other professionals can be guilty of patronizing patients (CBSNews.com, 2004). If more healthcare providers were to take on the role of a patient on a regular basis, it might lessen the chances of this happening.
CBS.com. (2004). Doctors patronizing seniors? Retrieved from www.cbsnews/video/watch/?id=598638n
Colomy P. (n/a). The big three: Social perspectives.
Mooney A, Knox D, & Schacht C. (2010). Understanding social problems. Florence, KY. Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Discussion Question # 2: Choose any event from the 1960 Timeline under Reading tab. Explain how you think that event influenced our lives in today's global society.
Discussion Question 2: How Satellites Launched in 1960 Influenced Our Lives Today
Tiros 1, the first weather satellite, collected and transmitted photographs of Earth’s cloud patterns. These photographs helped researchers learn the part that clouds play in Earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight into space, which cools the planet’s surface. The data collected encouraged scientists to launch other weather satellites into orbit to help meteorologists improve weather forecasting and understand the development, growth, movement of large storm systems. The data from Tiros 1 and its successors have positively influenced our lives today. One prime example is how the data collected on large storm systems like hurricanes has helped predict everything from wind and wave effects on the shoreline to where landfall will occur. While it is still not an exact science, the ability to narrow the areas that will be affected has helped with storm preparations and has saved many lives (encyclopedia.com, 2011).
Transat 1-b, the first navigation satellite, transformed navigation on the Earth’s oceans. It was the first all weather, reliable, accurate navigation information for ships. It pioneered space technology, as it modified time and frequency standards and it had the first computer technology sent into space. It advanced knowledge of the Earth’s gravitational field. The technology used to create the satellite spurred the development many devices, including the rechargeable cardiac pacemaker, implantable medicine pumps, and implantable defibrillators (jhuapl.edu, 2011).
----------------------------
"Atmosphere Observation." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. 2002. Retrieved March 05, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3438100076.html
http://sd-www.jhuapl.edu/Transit/