Samenvatting 'Understanding the Sociology of Health'
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Course
Gezondheidssociologie
Institution
Wageningen University (WUR)
Book
Understanding the Sociology of Health
This document is a summary of the book Understanding the Sociology of Health (Barry & Yuill, fourth edition) used in Health Sociology box. All chapters of the book are included in this summary. Maybe also convenient: my upload with notes of colleges Health Sociology!
RSO-13805: Sociologie van Gezondheid
Samenvatting boek
Chapter 1: Sociological theory: explaining and theorising
Sociology: a method of enquiry and explanation:……………………………………………….
Sociology is the study of the interaction between groups and individuals in human society. The
term society refers to a range of external factors that influence our beliefs and behave-ours.
Socialisation refers to the process whereby we become aware of the values and beliefs of
society.
The term structure is similar to that of ‘society’ in so far as it draws our attention to those factors
that help determine our experiences through the establishment of expected ways of behaving.
In contrast, the concept of agency reminds us that individuals do not simply act out
predetermined roles but ‘interpret’ those roles in a way unique to them.
A sociological understanding of health considers structural and social factors, rather than
simply biological explanations of health and disease.
In historical terms, modern is a term used to refer to the time period from the late nineteenth
century to the mid-twentieth century.
Sociology strives to be scientific in the sense that it seeks to evidence its findings and to ensure
that explanations are consistent. A fundamental difference between the social and natural
sciences is that the subject matter of the social sciences, unlike that of the natural sciences, is
human beings and their behaviour.
The concept of the sociological imagination refers to a specific way of thinking about the world,
characterised by a willingness to think beyond our own experiences and to challenge common-
sense or obvious explanations of human society and human behaviour.
The sociological imagination is crucial to ‘doing’ sociology as it provides a critical and
questioning edge, without which the discipline would be limited to simply describing social
phenomena.
An introduction to sociological theory:
Within the discipline of sociology, theory refers to attempts to provide systematic and
consistent explanations of social phenomena. The term paradigm refers to a systematic way
of thinking.
Doing and using sociological theory enables us to explain phenomena of which we do not have
direct experience.
Functionalism offers an explanation of human society as a collection of interrelated
substructures, the purpose of which is to sustain the overarching structure of society. As such,
functionalism provides a ‘consensual’ representation of society based, first, on an agreement
to sustain society as it is and, second, on shared norms and beliefs.
When a person takes on the ‘sick role’, they are excused from their normal roles and
responsibilities. The medical profession determines who is legitimately ‘sick’. This regulatory
role ensures that not too many people are unable to fulfil their normal roles -otherwise illness
would have a detrimental effect on the society as a whole.
Symbolic interactionism explains social phenomena from the perspective of its participants. An
essential element of this theoretical perspective is the unique nature of the social world as
made up of the actions of participants motivated by human consciousness. The meaning of
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