Sick role
Mechanic and Volkart coined the phrase illness behavior in 1961, to describe, the way in which symptoms are perceived, evaluated, and acted upon by a person who recognises some pain, discomfort or other signs of organic malfunction.
The concept of the 'sick role' was introduced by Talcott Parsons. Parsons described the sick role as a temporary, medically sanctioned form of deviant behaviour.
He suggested that a sick person has conflicting drives both to recover from the illness and to continue to enjoy the 'secondary gains' of attention and exemption from normal duties.
The sick role is characterised by the following conceptual rules:
The concept of the 'sick role' was introduced by Talcott Parsons. Parsons described the sick role as a temporary, medically sanctioned form of deviant behaviour.
He suggested that a sick person has conflicting drives both to recover from the illness and to continue to enjoy the 'secondary gains' of attention and exemption from normal duties.
The sick role is characterised by the following conceptual rules:
- the sick person is exempt from the normal social roles that the person takes for the duration of the illness. This exemption is legitimised by society as represented by the physician. Normal role performance and responsibilities are suspended so that the ill person can get well. The strength of the exemption varies directly with the severity of the illness.
- sick persons are not responsible for their illnesses. The illness is beyond personal control. A curative process outside the person is required to restore wellness.
- the sick person has the duty to try to get well. Sickness is societally undesirable and thus society places the obligation to get well on the patient, with the help of the doctor, of course.
- the sick person must seek competent technical help and co-operate with that caregiver.
