Lorber, J., & Moore, L. J. Considers the social environment in which learning takes place. It also implies that from a realistic point of view N�io���> �{ b��9{�>Q�Oc\�ľ'�x�ϲ�����ͱ@[]���$Ċ�����Arn�Ɇ��������'�T����P4�����ylb�����'�+�$) � ��~!����+ �O��"؈3R�� ��n`=��� �M|�=�}2�&���R?�M�^$���H'U�33.��(��}�`�q�,3ym��nbЭmuB#P�|�D8��Dm �Ɲi�3�k�U�-�\�өz�/P������\m��O��1p}�����O��=���u� P�/]�@w%hh�$g1.�W�V�/��9y�EV�=�\LOS�+�j����/��� �Z_�H!�&aRT9PX�#��i�6dۑN��]m1�.��������e����tN�T���U����ʤ`_�{.��97.�������q�;���"�����z�'~&f� ��2�Ax��o�!,�D|�� ja��j�j�(ب�Viɳ��,IM�i�k�@[�,x�4"�+��TnZ�vH�v5�|/��ܲ��Ֆ ���X�0߈�P��^�[�x�n A society’s culture and social structure also affect health and health care. Despite these possible faults, the symbolic interactionist approach reminds us that health and illness do have a subjective as well as an objective reality. As this definition suggests, health is a multidimensional concept. To the extent that physicians do not always provide the best medical care, the hierarchy that Parsons favored is at least partly to blame. Musto, D. F. The most important conceptual building block on which Basic Concepts of Symbolic Interactionism I. If all these expectations are met, said Parsons, sick people are treated as sick by their family, their friends, and other people they know, and they become exempt from their normal obligations to all these people. This concept suggests that Symbolic Interactionism is a construction of people’s social reality . Ill health impairs our ability to perform our roles in society, and if too many people are unhealthy, society’s functioning and stability suffer. A good way to teach it would … Once these problems become “medicalized,” their possible social roots and thus potential solutions are neglected. “Critics of this theory claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro level of social interpretation – the ‘big picture.’ In other words, symbolic interactionists may miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the ‘trees’ rather than the ‘forest’. He referred to these expectations as the sick role. Journal of Gender Studies, 17, 345–358. New York, NY: Harper Paperbacks. That changed by the end of the century, as prejudice against Chinese Americans led to the banning of the opium dens (similar to today’s bars) they frequented, and calls for the banning of opium led to federal legislation early in the twentieth century that banned most opium products except by prescription (Musto, 2002). To further “desex” the situation and reduce any potential uneasiness, a female nurse is often present during the exam. This social institution in the United States is vast, to put it mildly, and involves more than 11 million people (physicians, nurses, dentists, therapists, medical records technicians, and many other occupations). (�s�x�w In formulating your answer, think about the person’s clothing, body position and body language, and other aspects of nonverbal communication. 3 0 obj Third, Parsons wrote approvingly of the hierarchy implicit in the physician-patient relationship. Although physicians are certainly motivated, as many people are, by economic considerations, their efforts to extend their scope into previously nonmedical areas also stem from honest beliefs that people’s health and lives will improve if these efforts succeed. If we eat high-fat food, become obese, and have a heart attack, we evoke less sympathy than if we had practiced good nutrition and maintained a proper weight. Although this care is often very helpful, the definition of eating disorders as a medical problem nonetheless provides a good source of income for the professionals who treat it and obscures its cultural roots in society’s standard of beauty for women (Whitehead & Kurz, 2008). Third, sick people are expected to have their illness confirmed by a physician or other health-care professional and to follow the professional’s instructions in order to become well. Strengths The theory is fairly simple, allowing for most people to understand its general assumptions and relate to them. Home > A Level and IB > Sociology > Interactionism Interactionism 1.5 / 5 based on 2 ratings? As conceived by Talcott Parsons (1951), the functionalist perspective emphasizes that good health and effective medical care are essential for a society’s ability to function. Think of the last time you visited a physician or another health-care professional. Scientific medicine has greatly improved the health of people around the world. When the physician is a man, this situation is fraught with potential embarrassment and uneasiness because a man is examining and touching a woman’s genital area. Many experts say today that patients need to reduce this hierarchy by asking more questions of their physicians and by taking a more active role in maintaining their health. Thousand Oaks, CA: Wadsworth. Basic Concepts of Symbolic Interactionism a. Second, sick people must want to get well. Symbolic interactionism is the study of the relationship between self and society that focuses on the symbolic processes of communication between participants. Its growth in popularity coincides with the constructivist aspects of symbolic interactionism. This was especially true for premature death, said Parsons, because it prevents individuals from fully carrying out all their social roles and thus represents a “poor return” to society for the various costs of pregnancy, birth, child care, and socialization of the individual who ends up dying early. Diamond, A. (Ed.). The functionalist approach emphasizes that good health and effective health care are essential for a society’s ability to function, and it views the physician-patient relationship as hierarchical. Certainly there is some truth in this criticism of the conflict approach, but the evidence of inequality in health and medicine and of the negative aspects of the medical establishment’s motivation for extending its reach remains compelling. The ADHD example just discussed also illustrates symbolic interactionist theory’s concerns, as a behavior that was not previously considered an illness came to be defined as one after the development of Ritalin. Which approach—functionalist, conflict, or symbolic interactionist—do you most favor regarding how you understand health and health care? The way of boys: Promoting the social and emotional development of young boys. On the good side, they have believed they are the most qualified professionals to diagnose problems and to treat people who have these problems. Patients must perform the “sick role” in order to be perceived as legitimately ill and to be exempt from their normal obligations. (2009). Although symbolic interactionism might be considered as a theoretical lens, based on the questions you have, I would suggest that you consider phenomenology. Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology: Definition, Criticism & Examples Structural Functionalism and the Works of Talcott Parsons Symbolic interactionism is a social theory that society is shaped by the manner in which people interact with each other. <> To do so, they need the cooperation of the patient, who must answer the physician’s questions accurately and follow the physician’s instructions. Strengths. Although much of his discussion implies a person temporarily enters a sick role and leaves it soon after following adequate medical care, people with chronic illnesses can be locked into a sick role for a very long time or even permanently. Micro-interactions take place between one or a few individuals, while macro-interactions take place at a larger scale. It also implies that from a realistic point of view, the interpretations that are being made will not make much difference. ���;� In a more current example, an attempt to redefine obesity is now under way in the United States. Critics also say the approach neglects the effects of social inequality for health and illness. stream In a way, certain behaviors may be predicted. As noted earlier, the quality of health and health care differs greatly around the world and within the United States. Symbolic interactionism and cultural studies : the politics of interpretation Norman K. Denzin （Twentieth-century social theory） Blackwell, 1992 : hard : pbk Another criticism of symbolic interactionism is its narrow focus. Parsons was certainly right in emphasizing the importance of individuals’ good health for society’s health, but his perspective has been criticized for several reasons. The conflict approach also critiques efforts by physicians over the decades to control the practice of medicine and to define various social problems as medical ones. The symbolic interactionist approach has also provided important studies of the interaction between patients and health-care professionals. 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