Functionalist View of Illness Illness is a form of deviance, in that it keeps individuals from performing their normal social roles Allowing some illness is good for social stability because it acts as a sort of “pressure valve” for society (Brinkerhoff et al, pp )

“The sick role refers to four social norms regarding how sick people should behave and how society should view them” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 224).

Sick Role “First, sick persons are assumed to have legitimate reasons for not fulfilling their normal social roles” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 224).

Sick Role “Second, cultural norms declare that individuals are not responsible for the illnesses” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 224).

Sick Role “Third, sick persons are expected to consider sickness undesirable and work to get well” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 224).

Sick Role Fourth, “sick persons should seek and follow medical advice” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 224).

Conflict Perspective of Illness “Medicalization refers to the process through which a condition or behavior becomes defined as a medical problem requiring a medical solution” (Brinkerhoff et al, p. 225).

“Social epidemiology is the study of how social statuses relate to the distribution of illness and mortality” (Brinkerhoff et al, sixth edition, p 266).

Three modes of paying for health care: private payments insurance government