Sociology of Health: Illness as a Form of Deviance

This essay explores the sociological perspective of health and analyzes how illness can be understood as a form of deviance. It discusses the impact of society on the health of individuals and the relationship between deviance and mental illness.

SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Illness can be understood as a form of deviance.........................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Sociological perspective of health is a state of complete well being physical mental and
emotional. It lies emphasis on that the health of an individual totally depends upon the
environment and stability of mind. It also analyses the impact of society on health aspect of
community, group or individuals. Sociological perspective also explains the influence of social
factors on life style pattern of people. Deviance can be defined as the action which violated
social norms. It is basically a state of diverging from usual or accepted standards. It studies
society with the wide variety of focuses. Present report will lay emphasis on Illness can be
understood as a form of deviance.
MAIN BODY
Illness can be understood as a form of deviance
As per the view of Hippisley-Cox, Coupland and Brindle, (2017) it has been analysed that
illness has various facets. Deviances which are based on illness are being divided in various
types of categories. It includes madness, insanity, and lunacy, mental and psychiatric disorder. It
has been evaluated that the individual or patients who are going through this type of diseases or
illness can be behaving in a way which is not socially or psychologically acceptable. Author has
described that service seers who are going through problem of bipolar disorder, depression,
anxiety or any type of mental health illness are considered as dangerous in the society. They can
be involved in doing any type of crime which can cause a threat to the society. The social
response to mental illness can be called the “pharmaceuticalization” of mental illness.
Many mental health patients can be involved in doing crime as no proper medication and
care is being provided to them. The author has stated that illness can be a cause of deviance. It
has been analysed that mental health illness is linked with user being violent and causing serious
type of deviances. Further, it can be explained with the help of Differential association theory. In
this the author has explained that the behaviour of an individual totally depends upon their
environment as well as mental health capabilities. Environment plays a major role in deciding
about which norms the individuals who are ill tend to violate. It has also been analysed that
behaviour pattern of people who are mentally incapable can also be influenced because of
various causal factors. People can learn deviance from other individual with whom they are
associated with.

In accordance with Clark and et.al., (2018) there has been a linked between deviances and
mental illness. It has been analysed that people who are ill and facing any type of disease are
normally frustrated and irritated. They are depressed because of the health related problems
which are being faced by them. It is one of the main factors that they are engaged in violating
social norms and engaged in doing deviances. Sometimes aggressions can also one of the major
causes for deviance. The relationship between deviances and illness are muddied by confounding
factors. It has been analysed that individual who has faced physical aggression during early
childhood, can develop same pattern of behaviour which they have learned from their family
members. Children learn to model what they witness including domestic violence.
This type of pattern can make young adults weak and they can become depressed and
stressed. It is one of the major factors for the deviance to occur. It has also been analysed that if
individual is been a victim of the sexual or mental abuse are connected with the increase of
deviances to be occurred and also it can make an individual mentally ill. They learn criminal and
deviant behaviour from the people with whom they are associated with. If the society does not
accept the individual suffering from mental health illness can be considered as the major factor
for the creation of deviances.
In accordance with Somerville and et.al., (2019) socially accepted goals of the ill person
can reduce the development of deviances. The society also needs to provide ill people with
adequate resources so that they can reduce the case of deviances. It has also been analysed that
so many communities do not appoint individual who are ill. Employment issues can also be one
of the reasons that the service user can engaged in creating deviations. They can also face many
mental health problems because of this. These people can also involve in doing violence, if the
society does not support them. Hence, this proves that illness can lead to deviation. It has also
been analysed that the creation of deviances are directly linked with people who have addiction
of using drugs and alcohol. Excessive consumption of liquor can reduce the quality of life of
individual. This can reduce the health outcome of service user, making them ill. In this case,
there are chances that service users are struggling for seeking help directly leading to the
increase in cases of deviation. So, it is the responsibility of the society and community to give
support to people who are mentally and physically ill, so that they do not engaged in doing any
type of deviation. These types of cases are also being developed because of the environment in

which ill people are living. Environment has the huge impact on the people to be involved in
doing deviations.
As per the opinion of Kendler and et.al., (2016) Labelling theory can also be used to
explain the relationship between deviances and illness. It has been analysed that people become
concern from each others labels and symbols which increases stress in them and because of this
they can become severally ill. This theory explains that behaviour can only be considered as
deviant when society considers it deviant. Laboured person can include drug addict, mental ill,
abusers, and criminals. This can lead to lowering down the self image of individual. All these
tags are been given by society, it can reduce the self esteem and confidence of any individual.
This can force them engaging in more such type of activities which are not acceptable by the
society. There are various consequences related to being called as labelled. These consequences
can have severe impact on the growth of society. It has been analysed that in order to reduce the
unjustified behaviour of people who are being labelled as deviant, public services must be
involved in providing training and education to mentally and physically ill people.
This will assist them in reducing the crime scenes. It will also develop the self esteem and
confidence of people who are being considered and labelled as deviant. It will also be beneficial
for the growth of society and community. It has been analysed that labelling of mentally and
physical weak people must be considered as in correct. These labels are been given by people
who are in power such as politician, judges, communist. It must be considered as incorrect as this
is giving rise to many type of crime. In order to reduce the cases related to deviation by ill
people, health care professionals can also be engaged in having effective communication with
them (Madan and et.al., 2016). This will assist them in knowing about the problems that has been
faced by these individuals. It will help them in reducing the cases of deviation and making better
bond with people who are suffering mental and physical health problems. This can also develop
feeling of self esteem in these people. Deviance is one of the most important key to understand
the disruption. It can be considered as one of the most powerful mechanism for the construction
of society. It is very necessary that people who are ill are provided with adequate support and
also given adequate resources so that the cases related to deviation can be reduced. It can assist
in re-enforcing the stability in society which is really necessary for their growth and
development.

CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarised that deviations are been linked with illness. It
has been evaluated from the essay that service users who has faced physical aggression during
early childhood, can develop same pattern of behaviour which they have learned from their
family members. These types of individuals have been engaged in deviating the objects of
society. They have been engaged in doing various types of crime. It has also been analysed that
sometimes the mentally ill people are being labelled by powerful individuals. This has reduced
self image of ill person and also has increase the cases of crime in the society. It has been
analysed that mentally and physically ill people needs to be provided with adequate resources so
that creation of deviation reduces. It has also assisted in growth and development of society. It
has also been analysed that environments also has huge impact on development of deviation.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Kendler, K.S. and et.al., 2016. Observed cognitive performance and deviation from familial
cognitive aptitude at age 16 years and ages 18 to 20 years and risk for schizophrenia and
bipolar illness in a Swedish national sample. JAMA psychiatry, 73(5), pp.465-471.
Somerville, V. and et.al., 2019. Upper respiratory illness in different tiers of rugby union. Sport
Sciences for Health, 15(1), pp.197-205.
Clark, K. and et.al., 2018. Plasma Vitamin D Level as a Risk Factor for Chest Illness in Chronic
Spinal Cord Injury: A Longitudinal Study. In A47. NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE AND
RESPIRATION (pp. A1772-A1772). American Thoracic Society.
Hippisley-Cox, J., Coupland, C. and Brindle, P., 2017. Authors' response to letters on QRISK3
regarding the definition of severe mental illness and analysis of systolic blood pressure
variability. BMJ, 357.
Madan, A and et.al., 2016. Improvements in somatic complaints among individuals with serious
mental illness receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital. Psychosomatic medicine, 78(3),
pp.271-280.

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