Social Institutions - Essay Example

 Social s During the past decade in the 20th century, discussions related with the sociology of health care and medicine to be a separate form of discipline along with its practical applications had become more frequent. The major factors that determined the increasing importance for this discipline were the institutionalization for medicine along with health care, the changing patterns in the doctor to patient relationships, the different patterns of health perceptions and an understanding of the various influences of social aspects on healthcare. In sociology, the general social theories in the form of structural functionalism, the conflict, and interactionism help us to explain the various changes seen in a health care system. There is a common relation between medical sociology with the other patterns of sociology that share related areas of medicine and health. These features would be analyzed in the paper to be discussed. Social welfare is found to be related with the better health indicators or the morbidity indicators in the society, thus making medical sociology as one of the fundamental developing domains in the medical science of public health. Medical sociology has become the new “glasses” in the interests of the public health specialists in which the requirements of looking through it seems appreciable and wider. This also provides the opportunities for tackling the problems in health care such as doctor to patient interaction and many more (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.110). One of the important aspects of sociological theories in health care institutions is that it helps in understanding the component of family care. Defining medical sociology “Sociology is the scientific study of groups, organizations, institutions, relationships, and interpersonal behavior. The field of medical sociology brings an eclectic approach to the study of health behavior, professional work roles, and medical institutions” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, pp. 110-111). “In general, sociology tends to focus on basic research, for which practical applications are not always obvious. In contrast, medical sociology has an applied focus which takes researchers into health service settings for on-site data collection and intervention. Medical sociologists utilize applied sociology methods, such as needs assessment and social impact assessment” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.111). Applying the different social theories in understanding the concept of health and medicine We will discuss the impact of sociological theories, Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism in health care in this section. We begin with Structural functionalism. Structural functionalism examines the role that a sick person can play in the society. The focus remains on how on being ill or sick, it provides some specific forms in the human society (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.111). Talcott Parsons is regarded to be the founder of Medical Sociology mostly because of his understanding and description of a “Sick Role” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.111). T. Parsons’ concept about the sick role presents a clear and a straightforward statement for four basic propositions that outline the underlying normative pattern in physician accessibility by the sick and the corresponding social roles. T. Parsons had not only formed the first basic theoretical concept that would be directly implemented to the medical sociology, but by incorporating the works of E. Durkheim along with M. Weber, he established it within the said parameters in classical sociological theory. His formulation was recognized as “a penetrating and apt analysis of sickness from a distinctly sociological point of view,” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.112). T. Parsons had also influenced the concept of studying professions by utilizing the medical profession as a form of role model for all other professions that would be based on expertise as well as carry a service orientation (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.112). Conflict theory Conflict theory is basically concerned with the relationship established between health care and its illness with a capitalist social organization. “The focus is on how the definition and treatment of health and illness are influenced by the nature of economic activity in a capitalist society. Conflict theory is based on the assumption that society is composed of various groups struggling for advantage that inequality is a basic feature of social life, and conflict is the major cause of social change” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.112). C. Marx’s perspective regarding the conflict theory is seen to be in rejection for the views expressed by the structural functionalism concept that the society is bound together by the shared norms and its values. Conflict theory says that true consensus can never exist. It is rather the society’s norms and the values of the dominant elite that are imposed by them on people who are less privileged. This is done by the elite group to maintain their advantageous position. “Conflict theory allows us to chart the maneuvers of various entities, like the medical profession, insurance companies, drug companies, the business community, and the public, as they struggle to acquire, protect, or expand their interests against existing government regulations and programs and those under consideration” (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p .112). Interactionism Symbolic interaction or Interactionism is known to be one of the social concepts , which would attempt in answering the questions of how interaction is carried out by us in the society, how we are able to understand each other, and what actually determines for the success in our social interaction (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p. 113). In health care “Symbolic interactionism is concerned with examining the interaction among the different role players in the health and illness drama. The focus is on how illness and the subjective experience of being sick are constructed through the doctor–patient exchange (Kaminskas & Darulis, 2007, p.113). The concept of symbolic interactionism is mostly used for investigating the population health. Similarities and differences between the sociological theories and health care Functionalism, also known as structural functional theory views a society to be a structure with the interrelated parts that are designed for fulfilling the biological together with the sociological needs of the individual who form the society. Herbert Spencer had argued that just as the different parts of the body work together to keep the entire body units functioning, the different parts of the society work together to keep it regulated and under control (Theoretical Perspectives, n.d). In this context, Spencer was referring to the social institutions such as health care. But lately, structural functional is no longer applied in these contexts. Conflict theory states that there must be certain sections of the society who must keep a level of authority or power in the society by maintaining control over wealth and power. This would lead the powerful entity to maintain control over the weaker ones. This is mostly seen in health care systems where the higher authorities lay down rules and regulations for the subordinates. However there is much indifference regarding the conflict theory. According to Weber, “If the authority of the people in power was considered legitimate by those over whom they had power, then conflicts were less intense”(Theoretical Perspectives, n.d). Another German sociologist, Georg Simmel had said that these conflicts could in fact help to integrate and stabilize the society (Theoretical Perspectives, n.d). Conflict theory can be used to explain the differences between gender and race that is often observed in the health care units. The differences over this theory lies in the fact that just as the theory of structural functionalism criticized for its over focusing on the stability of the societies, conflict theory was being criticized as it tend to project on the conflicts more and excluding the importance to recognize stability (Theoretical Perspectives, n.d). Symbolic Interactionism would make the theoretical perspectives available that would help the scholars examine different relationship of the individuals in their society. This perspective is based on the assumption that communication in any form or the various exchanges of meanings through the languages and the symbols is the process by which people can make sense of the social worlds they live in. While the conflict theorist analyzing a political protest such as between the higher management and the group D workers in a health care unit, might emphasize on the class difference, a symbolic interactionist on the other side would usually be more concerned about how the individuals who are protesting might interact, along with the different signs and symbols that these protesters use for communicating their messages (Theoretical Perspectives, n.d). Application of both these symbolic interactionism and its critical perspective in health care offers many exciting new scopes for the development of the theory. In health care, these two theoretical concepts could provide added insight into the patients' and the families' problems pertaining at its micro level while simultaneously providing them with a tool to see and understand the problems in these macro levels of health care. In health care , a combined form of symbolic interactionism or the critical perspective approach could assists the people in health care to provide high-quality care in the individual levels while at the same time, working in the macro levels in order to address the manufacturers of such illnesses (Symbolic interactionism and critical perspective: divergent or synergistic?, 2010). Impact of the theories on individual views at health care The different sociological theories discussed in the paper can lead to separate views on the opinions of the individual operating in a health care institution. The Functionalists can form the view that health is important for the continuation of the human kind and to lead an organized social life. One way by which the societies can control the negative effects of the health problems and its disease is by institutionalizing illnesses in the sick role. Conflict theorists would form the opinion that there would be a section of people who would achieve better health care than others as they would possess the access to the resources that would contribute to a good health and a fast recovery process in case they fall sick. Interactionist theorists would then view sickness to be a medical condition in which we would tend to attach some socially devised meanings. For example, a large number of behaviors that were defined by the earlier generations as being immoral or sinful are being observed to be seen as forms of sickness better known as medicalization of deviance. Medicalization is known to be the process in which the earlier forms of non-medical conditions were begun to be seen in medical terms, mostly the disorders or the illnesses. The medicalization of deviance referred to the process in which the non-normative or the morally condemned appearance such as obesity, being unattractive, being short, mental disorder, forms of racism, and conduct such as drinking, or gambling, or sexual practices are observed under the purview of medical jurisdiction (McGann & Conrad, 2007). Impact of the theories on social changes in healthcare Deeper meaning about the nation’s health system and its problems can be understood by examining the three paradigms of sociology namely functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interaction. These features have deep implications in the functioning of both the patient and the physicians or the health care unit as a whole. Functionalism would say that the positive and the negative functions in a society can help in interpreting the organization. The positive functions or the outcomes in a health care system would be the treatment of the diseases and its prevention (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.539). At the same time it would mean that health care is provided to the people irrespective of their race, ethnicity or gender (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.539). Functionalism in health care would mean how the health care system is involved with the government through its features such as regulation on new drugs and their procedures. Functionalism would tend to examine the institutionalized form of health care and examine how these forms could provide benefit to the society (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.539). Conflict theory would address the social inequality of the health care. This can be in the form of the minority people or the poor people and the working class who have limited access to the facilities of health care (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.539). Impact of each sociological theory affecting the views of society within health care Functionalism views social structure or an organization of the society to be more essential than an individual. Functionalists usually presume that sociological matters must be explained using scientific facts. This feature is presently known as Positivism. The founder of this feature, Angste Comte described positivism to be a method of studying primary facts that would be objectively measured and from which it would be possible to know or identify the issues in a society that could affect the individuals and thus create rooms for innovations in law as well as in establishing new legislation (Functionalism, 2000). This throws light into the fact that previously known form of ailments that were neglected by people and the society in the health care should be addressed using a scientific approach. Conflict theory generally emphasizes on the concept of power differentials as observed in the society. This is increasingly seen in the health care. The sociologists who had formulated the theory strongly believed on social stratification. According to them, conflict occurred when there were limited resources that would eventually lead to power struggle or different forms of competition within the society. The potentially wealthy individuals would get a hold over all the health care opportunities and thus would possess the power to manipulate and control over the weaker groups. Because of this domination and the feeling of being ruled by a higher group of individuals, the fast changes in the society such as in the health care systems take place. At this juncture it can be said that conflict theory probably is the only theory that addresses the struggle for power and control between the different classes. This is greatly true in a health care unit where there is a tendency in the higher group people to dominate over the lower group ones. Lastly, Interactionism or symbolic Interactionism would help to understand how the interactions in the society of the health care system could be managed. This can be explained using the relationship between the patient and the physician such as a gynecologist (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.541). Various queries from both the patient and the patient can be solved using symbolic interpretations so as to keep the interaction fully impersonal (Andersen & Taylor, 2007, p.541). Conclusion From the above points it becomes evident that there are many ways by the three general views or theories of sociology have profound implications as in a heath care. Each of the sociological theories of Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism contribute in understanding the various aspects in the health care. These implications also have an impact on the way people view the health care system and the society within it. Thus while functionalist theory says that interaction between every component of the healthcare is necessary to build a strong society, conflict theories states that power differences between the rich and the poor contradicts it. Also symbolic inter interactionism states that communication can play an important role in understand the relation between the patient and the physician in a better and impersonal manner. Thus, the general theories of sociology can also be applied in understanding a social institution such as health care. References  Andersen, M. L. & Taylor, H. F. (2007). Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning Functionalism, (2000), retrieved on November 2, 2012, from: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/functionalism.htm Kaminskas, R. & Darulis, Z. (2007), Peculiarities of medical sociology:application of social theories in analyzing health and medicine, retrieved on: November 2, 2012, from: http://medicina.kmu.lt/0702/0702-04e.pdf McGann, P. J. & Conrad, P. (2007), Deviance, Medicalization of, retrieved on: November 2, 2012, from: http://www.sociologyencyclopedia.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405124331_yr2012_chunk_g978140512433110_ss2-3 Symbolic interactionism and critical perspective: divergent or synergistic?, (2010), retrieved on: November 2, 2012, from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20017881 Theoretical Perspectives,(n.d), retrieved on: November 2, 2012, from: http://cnx.org/content/m42792/latest/?collection=col11407/latest Read More