Sociological and Psychological Perspectives in Healthcare Centres - Essay Example

Sociological and Psychological Perspectives in Healthcare Centres Introduction: The present study aims to make a critical analysis of the significance of observing sociological and psychological perspectives in healthcare centres by the management and staff members of healthcare and counselling organisations while entering into interaction with colleagues and co-workers on the one hand, and attending the patients undergoing ailments and disorders of various kinds on the other. The study is being conducted keeping in view the challenges faced by a multicultural society like the UK. The main purpose behind studying the health phenomenon in purview of both disciplines above-mentioned includes the measurement of the significance of applying these perspectives for creating a pleasant and accommodating environment in the workplace as well as for the fast and comprehensive treatment and subsequent convalescence of the patients. The paper will also discuss the importance of implementation sociological and psychological theoretical frameworks on the personality and performance of the healthcare providers and staff members along with the cure and care of the patients. Before embarking upon the topic under-examination, it would be advisable to define and discuss both the perspectives, which is as following: Brief Overview of the Perspectives: It has aptly been stated that sociology is the systematic study of society and all institutions existing within the social establishment (Macionis, 2007). Consequently, it encompasses family, school, peer group and church, as well as financial and political institutions in its vast fold. In addition, crime prevention, healthcare, ethno-racial discriminations and class conflict prevailing in society also come within the range of the discipline (Perlstadt, 2006). Since major endeavour of the discipline includes the investigation of the nature and motives behind social interaction between two or more persons, it seeks to examine various social processes including co-operation, competition and conflict, essential for the adequate functioning of a social establishment (Ritzer, 2003). Moreover, being one of the most fundamental social institutions, the problems and activities related to healthcare and fitness are the topics of vital interest for the sociologists (Knelman, 1996). Similarly, psychology is rightly regarded as a social science that maintains direct connection with mental health and wellbeing of the individuals of a society. Since discipline of psychology studies the emotional condition, feelings, and behaviour of the people at individual level, it also contains a strong association with medical and health sciences. It is simply viewed to be the scientific analysis of human mind and its functions, and the impact of these functions on human behaviour subsequently (Craig & Baucum, 2002). Hence, psychology looks for exploring the causes behind the individuals’ conducting or abstinence from performing an act or the other. Significance of Theories: Theories have been articulated and researches have been conducted in order to unveil various aspects of human activities and behaviour (Theo, 2008). Theories actually serve as the reflections of concepts and building blocks of mind, which are articulated in the wake of in-depth observation and examination of the social and natural phenomena existing all around (Coser, 1977). An approach is a perspective, McLeod argues, which involves certain beliefs and assumptions related to human behaviour: the way they function, which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study (2007). Theories studying social behaviour of the individuals are regarded as sociological perspectives, while the frameworks elaborating human needs and desires come under the definition of psychological perspectives. Although, theories differ from one another in nature and scope, yet all of them appear to be sharing the common assumptions and conditions determined by the scholars as essential for developing a theoretical framework. Major sociological perspectives include structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, social conflict, exchange theory and others, while chief psychological perspectives include humanism, cognitive dissonance theory, self-evaluation maintenance theory, psychoanalytic approach and others. By critically examining the history of the world, it becomes crystal clear that the United Kingdom has been the pioneer for the last several centuries in the fields of health and education, art and literature, politics and military campaigns, strategic management and tourism, research and investigation, scientific discoveries and technological advancements, and others (Vassiliou, 2011). It is by dint of the collective efforts made by the nation in order to explore the secrets of the universe, which has encouraged them to discover the motives and stimulus that urge human beings to perform in one way or the other during their interaction with the fellow humans for the fulfilment of their desires and the successful execution of tasks; both sociological and psychological perspectives concentrate upon the same. Sociological Perspectives and UK Healthcare: Renowned theorist Herbert Spencer concluded that the laws of biology could be suited for and combined with social theory to explain the enormously stratified Western societies. (Leyva, 2009) It is therefore, these perspectives are not only discussed and debated in the country, but are also keenly observed in health institutions with great dedication and enthusiasm (Macionis, 2008). The UK health organizations provide a comprehensive health plan to the individuals in accordance with the policies introduced and applied by the government. It is therefore, the institution of health has successfully combated with the most fatal diseases including cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis, heart attacks, polio and others. In addition, successful conducting of kidney and liver transplantation, and complicated heart surgery prove the UK as world leader in the campaign of eradicating the fatal diseases. It is therefore, the UK is one amongst the list of few countries observing lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. The same efforts and campaigns are suggested at community level in order to provide the masses with best possible environment at healthcare centres. Studies reveal the very fact that social and cultural views and beliefs maintain imperative contributions to the subjects of health and fitness. For instance, some moralists and personalistic theorists, including Devlin and others, declare extra-marital relationships as the outcome of fast spread of contagious diseases in the UK; hence the approach declares disease as a punishment from some supernatural powers in the wake of a delinquent behaviour committed by the ailing person (Krieger, 2001). Similarly, Marxist theorists declare social inequalities, unjust distribution of wealth and resources, and exploitation of haves-not at the hands of haves as the most significant reasons behind hypertension, heart diseases and blood pressure etc (Ritzer, 2003). Somehow, it is the duty of the healthcare centres to discourage the superstitions prevailing in the minds of the people. The patients should be informed regarding the causes behind diseases and precautionary measures that could minimise the possibilities of serious ailments. In addition, co-operation with the patients and making joint efforts with them could eliminate their diseases and emotional stress. It has aptly been observed in healthcare centres that ethno-racial conflicts, class discrimination and religious hatred and prejudice pave the way towards the creation of unpleasant state of affairs in the institutions, which also lead to mental and physical ailments and disorders subsequently. Structural functional theory also elucidates the same by stating that proper functioning of all parts of an organic whole is directly dependent of coherence among these parts; the same is also applied to the social institutions. Sociological analyses therefore recognise that needs of social organism are critical in determining why a structure should exist and persist (Turner, 1990). The healthcare organisations in the multicultural UK society are directed to render their services without taking the ethno-racial and religious backgrounds as well as gender and sexual orientations of the co-workers and patients alike into any consideration. It is therefore, no medical and nursing staff could refuse to provide treatment to blacks, gays and other minority groups or perverts altogether provided they are not involved into any criminal activity or maintaining offensive behaviour towards the staff members. Hence, sociological perspectives view cohesion and co-operation as essential elements for keeping healthcare organisation in perfect order on the one side and supportive for swift and complete cure of the ailing individuals on the other. In addition, symbolic interactionism looks for applying of gestures and symbols while conveying the messages to one another (Ritzer, 2003). The perspective is particularly supportive in healthcare centres, where operation theatres, dispensaries, pharmacies, doctor’s office and counselling centres are depicted in a symbolic way for the comforts of the visitors and patients. Similarly, the medical and nursing staff can understand the needs and requirements of the patients by studying their face expressions and physical conditions. Moreover, age, gender and appearance of the visitors and patients also determine the situation they undergo. It not only makes the care and cure process fast, but can also turn out to be supportive in respect of protecting the patients from pains and sufferings without making any delays. Thus, sociological perspectives are helpful in fulfilling the patients’ needs on emergency basis. Psychological Perspectives and UK Healthcare: Psychological perspectives submit to state that every individual carries the mental capacities and competencies quite different to his fellow beings in every respect, which reflect the divergence in thinking and action in people’s behaviours. Several lines of research are consistent with the notion that incompetent individuals lack the meta-cognitive skills necessary for accurate self-assessment as well as demanding the fulfilment of their desires (Kruger & Dunning, 1999). However, it does not mean that the individuals having lack of competencies are always involved into destructive or negative tasks. For instance, Festinger’s Cognitive Dissonance Theory (1957) explores the presence of both positive and negative thinking in one and the same personality or article. The same could be witnessed by closely examining the social attitude of the patients. Sometimes, it so happens that a patient is brought for counselling and therapy to the healthcare centre, with the blame that he turns wild after heavy alcohol consumption. Somehow, during his admission in hospital, he observes politeness and mannerism in conversation and behaviour. It is the professional obligation of the medical staff to investigate into the causes behind his drug or alcoholic addiction, and turning wild subsequently. Since healthcare phenomenon is vast in nature, and contains surgery, medicines, nursing and care-giving, counselling, physiotherapy and much more, the healthcare centres have to display extreme patience, tolerance and endurance while providing services to the clients and patients suffering from trauma, emotional collapse, physical disabilities, injuries and psychological problems; Self-Discrepancy perspective points out towards the same. The approach appears to be determined to monitor the liking, disliking, perception and aptitude of the patients; and suggests the methods to introduce alterations in the unpleasant aspects of their thoughts and behaviour. Somehow, some perceptions are consistent, which cannot be discouraged by any motivation at all, and hence turn out to be challenging for the nursing staff. Another psychological perspective i.e. self-evaluation maintenance theory describes the influence of the comments and interference of others on our belief and aptitude. It was Festinger (1954) to articulate the perspective that the performances of others influence one’s own self-evaluation. We attempt to integrate two theoretical perspectives that build on social comparison theory (Schmitt et al. 2002). The same could also be observed within healthcare perspective, where sometimes the black nurses have to undergo racial hatred from few prejudiced white patients, and vice versa. They have, actually, developed misconception about the other ethnic and racial groups, and do not appear to get ready to come out of that state of affair at any cost; and their feelings of abhorrence are as strong as their faith in their religion even. Here appears Self-Affirmation Theory (Steele, 1988), which lays stress upon taking defensive measures in order to escape any unpleasant situation at healthcare centre, which not only could disturb the treatment process, but also can put the career of the staff members into grave jeopardy. The perspective views that the cultural values, prevailing in multiracial societies of UK, USA and others, could not only destroy the self-esteem of minority groups, but also such types of hatred could assure social conflicts and even chaos within the social establishment. Conclusion: To conclude, it becomes evident that application of both sociological and psychological perspectives maintains great significance in individual and collective life of the people at large. It is particularly the case with the healthcare organisations and counselling centres, where people belonging to different classes, castes, age-groups, genders, socioeconomic statuses, education levels, professions, ethnicities, races and religious faith arrive as medical professionals, patients, attendants and management staff members. Since basic motive behind visiting a hospital of healthcare centre includes seeking professional counselling and support for the ailing and wailing patients, the medical professionals have to demonstrate high scale endurance and expertise in order to ensure the cure and convalescence procedure. Although, professional skills, proficiencies and command over their respective field(s) are most essential elements during the treatment process; yet it is not only professional expertise that matters while dealing with the clients and patients. It is partially due to the very reality that doctors, counsellors, patients and management staff members are humans and part of their social establishment primarily, and their professional obligations come after the same. It is therefore, their knowledge about sociological and psychological perspectives is inevitable for the successful launching of their professional skills. Sociological perspectives elucidate the patterns of behaviour adopted and observed by the patients, their attendants, and the staff members, which are actually the reflection of their thoughts and views about various social phenomena. Although, sociological theories skilfully explain the behaviours of the individuals, yet it is psychological perspectives that investigate into the drives and motives behind conducting of one act or the other. Hence, basic knowledge of both the patterns and approaches turns out to be extremely beneficial for the medical and nursing professionals particularly in an advanced and multicultural society of UK, which has ruled over a large part of the globe by dint of the expertise and command of its masses in all departments and fields of interest in general. 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