Sociology of Health: Comparing Sociological Perspectives on Health

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the sociology of health, exploring the interplay between society and health outcomes. It begins by contrasting the biomedical and social models of health, illness, and disability, highlighting their differing approaches to healthcare and patient treatment. The report then delves into the sociological perspectives on mental illness, comparing and contrasting social realism and social constructionism. Finally, it analyzes two major sociological views – the Marxist and Functionalist perspectives – on the role of medical professionals within society, examining their impact on healthcare delivery and societal structures. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of understanding the sociological dimensions of health, illness, and disability.

Sociology of Health

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Differences between biomedical and social models of health, illness and disability...........1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Social realism and social constructionism............................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
3.1 Compare and contrast of two sociological views..................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Sociology of health can be defined as a process in which society and health interacts with
each other. With the help of this approach, different effects of social life on mortality and
morbidity rate can be determined. Concept of sociology is totally different from medical
sociology (Aghayi, 2016). Various sociologists have stated that diseases are spread by ethnic
traditions, socio-economic standard of people and some other kind of cultural causes. This
project report is based on the concept of sociology of health. In this, deviation between
biomedical and socio models has been evaluated. Along with this, different approaches of mental
illness has also been determined. At last, comparison between two major sociological views has
been demonstrated on the basis of medical professions of society.
TASK 1
1.1 Differences between biomedical and social models of health, illness and disability
Health indicates the level of functional ratio of a living organism. It can also be defined
as an ability of individual which helps him in facing various changes of environmental factors
such as mental, physical, social and psychological. The term ''Health'' is divided into three
models which are social, biomedical and psychological.
(Source: The Bio psychosocial Model and Its Limitations, 2015)
Biomedical model: It is a conceptual framework which helps in understanding health
issues. Concept of biomedical gives importance to illness and disease. This type of model is used
by medical professionals so that they can treat their ill patients. It is very much related with
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Illustration 1: Models of Health

diagnosis and cure. With the help of this approach, health care industry can improve and develop
different aspects of medical science. Focal point of biomedical model is to treat and diagnosis
people in most effective and systematic manner so that they can live healthy long life (Simpson,
2013). It involves those illness, diseases and disabilities which are related to physical health of
individuals. Major responsibility of this model is to provide prolonging life expectation.
Biomedical model is divided into two major aspects which are follows as under:
 Diagnosis: This approach helps in determining disease by using diagnostic tests which
includes X-rays, blood tests, scans etc.
 Interventions: It refer as action or procedure which helps in improving health issues by
taking help of prescriptions, hospitalization, surgery and some other methods.
Moreover, these are some most important aspects of biomedical model of health. It
undertakes various actions such as ultrasounds, Pap smear tests, surgery, mammograms and so
on, to improve individual's life
Social model: It is known as community approach which includes economic, cultural,
social and environmental aspects which can affect individual's health. It also helps in preventing
illnesses and diseases. It gives core attention to those policies, health promotion and education
programs which can help in solving health related issues. It is that conceptual framework which
solves health problems by considering social, economic and environmental factors of individual's
wellness. According to social model of health, people can live healthy life by considering
different aspects of macro environmental factors. This concept helps in removing social
inequities and also provides power to communities and individuals. Main objective of this
approach is to provide education to general people so that they can make themselves safe from
different diseases and illnesses (Fox, 2016).
Hence, these are two major models of health which help in understanding the concept of
sociology of health. Above mentioned approaches are totally different from each other which can
be determined by below mentioned table:
Biomedical model Social model
 This model gives importance to
physical illness and disease.
 Biomedical model is operated by
doctors and health care professionals.
 This concept considers all components
which are related to macro environment
and can affect individual's health.
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 It is related with cure, diagnosis and
treatments of illness.
 This model is considered as burden on
health care industry.
 It can be practised by general people.
 It provides various preventions for the
treatment of any disease.
 On the other side, social model is
considered as prevention for health care
industry.
TASK 2
2.1 Social realism and social construction-ism
Mental health is a stage which help individuals in understanding his own potentiality
also, help them in cooperating with daily stresses of life. With the help of this, people can
positively contribute their efforts in their society and community. It is very much important for
humans to make their mind stable and healthy so that they can face any kind of stress. On the
other side, mental illness is a sociological concept which makes an individual unable to perform
his social roles and responsibilities. It is referred as a dysfunctional interpersonal behaviour of
people which restrict them to perform their daily activities and practices which are related to
their society. In simple words, mentally ill individual suffers from some mental disorder which
make him unable to run his daily social activities (Burr, 2015). Concept of mental illness can be
evaluated by two major approaches which are follows as under:
Social Realism: It can be defined as aesthetic movement which helps in representing
daily problems and troubles of social groups and communities. It is developed as reaction
approach which is against the romanticism concept. Social realism was firstly introduced by
George Eliot. According to this concept rich people separated themselves from the poor. Social
realism aspect helps those mental people who comes under poverty line.
Social construction-ism: It is known as most important approach of mental illness.
According to this, mental illness of an individual totally depends upon the culture in which he
lives. Every society and community have their own beliefs and behaviour, they act according to
them only. For an example, catholic society believes that suicide is against their values but in
japan it is considered as way to free from sins. By evaluating this example it has been determined
that all society have their own believes and nature which affects their mental health and illness.
(Moore, 2013).
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Henceforth, these are the two major approaches which helps in understanding broader
concept of mental illness. With the help of above mentioned concepts, mental illness can be
defined in most effective manner.
TASK 3
3.1 Compare and contrast two sociological views
There are two major sociological views on the role of medical professionals in society.
These are follows as under:
Marxists view: This sociological perspective was assessed by Samina Iqbal for the role of
medicine as well as medical professionals. It contributes a lot in society and different
communities. In modern world, health and social care industry is leading very well just because
it have medical professions which are very much beneficial for general public. Marxists view
was accessed to provide relaxation to working class people. It also helps capitalist by providing
them healthy and fit work force. According to this approach, medical professionals play an
important role in the society as they provides various health related services to ill people
(Thévenot, 2011). Marxists is that medical science which helps in determining problems and
their solution, which are raised by capitalism inequities. In capitalists system, doctors plays most
essential role. They are considered as most important key people of society because they are the
only person who provides health related services. In exchange they get high status and strong
goodwill in society. Biggest weaknesses of this approach is that, it is not beneficial in the case of
women and their pregnancy. Still, childbirth is perceived in a difficult and different way. Hence,
it can be said that doctors are the most powerful person because of their high knowledge and
medical experience. Medical profession is best for doctors as they help and control people by
providing them treatment for their disease or illness.
Functionalism View: In contrast of above mentioned sociological perspective, this
approach gives importance to those factors which help in binding society into one group. It
considered society as biological system which is made by different social structures. It involves
various social institutions, in which social roles are allocated to individuals. For social stability it
is very much important for people to perform their social roles which have allotted to them.
People of social institutions should perform their roles in most effective manner. For an
example- medical trainer should maintain their trainees in a systematic manner so that they can
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get appropriate knowledge about medical science (Berger, 2011). It is the responsibility of
trainees to respond back in a positive manner.
Hence, these are two major sociological views which are different from each other, but
works for medical professions in society. Comparison of both approaches can be done on the
basis of social roles as doctors are considered to be more important as compared to medical
instructors or trainers.
CONCLUSION
By evaluating this project report, it has been concluded that sociology of health plays an
important in analysing interaction between health and social groups. It can influence the impact
on fatality and dullness rate. This concept helps medical professionals in stopping infections of
diseases. Also, it helps in managing a healthy society. In this project, different concepts of
health, illness and disability have been evaluated so that they can be removed from society.
Difference between biomedical and social model of health has been determined. Along with this,
sociological approaches of mental illness such as socialism and social construction-ism has been
demonstrated. At last, Marxists and Functionalism view of sociology have been evaluated on the
role of surgical professionals in society. All these concepts are very much helpful in
understanding the sociology of health, illness and disability.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aghayi, M., 2016. SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF MENTAL HEALTH. Journal of
Fundamental and Applied Sciences. 8(2S). pp.608-620.
Berger, P.L., 2011. Invitation to sociology: A humanistic perspective. Open Road Media.
Burr, V., 2015. Social constructionism. Routledge.
Fox, N.J., 2016. Health sociology from post-structuralism to the new materialisms. Health:.
20(1). pp.62-74.
Moore, R., 2013. Social realism and the problem of the problem of knowledge in the sociology
of education. British Journal of Sociology of Education. 34(3). pp.333-353.
Simpson, P.L., 2013. Betwixt and in-between state and community: illness identities and the
distinct expertise of a health-orientated community-based organisation within the
contemporary socio-political environment (Doctoral dissertation).
Thévenot, L., 2011. Power and oppression from the perspective of the sociology of engagements:
a comparison with Bourdieu's and Dewey's critical approaches to practical activities.
Irish Journal of Sociology. 19(1). pp.35-67.
Online
The Bio psychosocial Model and Its Limitations. 2015. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201510/the-
biopsychosocial-model-and-its-limitations>. [Accessed on 8th September 2017].
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