Module: Health, Illness and Society

Topic 1: Introduction to the Module


Topic 1: Introduction to the Module

Objectives

When you have completed the reading and participated in the taught components for this week, we hope you will be able to

  • Explain broadly how a sociological understanding of illness and healthcare differs from biomedical one
  • Appreciate the role of society and culture in shaping our experience of illness and health services
  • Appreciate that ‘the social’ has different levels (individual/interpersonal, group, institution)
  • List some key concepts and theoretical approaches in medical sociology
  • Be clear about how the module is assessed

Orientation: Aims, objectives and assignments

In this preliminary session, you will meet your fellow students, learn about their backgrounds and experiences, reflect on the module aims and objectives, learn how the module will be assessed and what is expected in the assignment, and discuss any specific goals which you wish to achieve in this module.

Lecture: Sociology of health and illness: a map of the field

This introductory lecture will outline the scope of sociology as a discipline and explain some key concepts, terms and approaches used in medical sociology. These will include (but not be limited to)

  • Specific concepts such as the social construction of illness (and the phenomenon of ‘medicalisation’); the illness experience; the sick role and stigma; the clinical relationship; the social role of the professions; and the sociology of scientific knowledge
  • Abstract concepts, particularly social structure and human agency
  • Theoretical orientations, particularly social constructionism and critical theory

Virtual seminar: Key concepts in medical sociology

This week we will introduce the virtual seminar format and discuss the opportunities and challenges of a sociological perspective on health and illness.


Click below to discuss:


Set reading

 

ACADEMIC PAPERS

Kaminskas R, Darulis Z: Peculiarities of medical sociology: application of social theories in analyzing health and medicine. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2007, 43:110-117. (Read it here)

Scambler G: Health-related stigma. Sociology of Health and Illness 2009, 31:441-455. (Read it here)

 

BOOK CHAPTERS

de Maio F: Theoretical contours. In: Health and Social Theory. 1st edn. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 2009: 28-55. (Read it here)

Lupton D: Theoretical perspectives on medicine and society. In: Medicine as culture: Illness, disease and the body. 3rd edn. London: Sage; 2012: 1-19. (Read it here)

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

There is one assignment for this module, a 3000-word essay on an aspect of sociology applied to medicine or health care. You will be given a list of topics to choose from and details of what type and standard of work we are looking for.

You will be given the deadlines for handing in your assignments during the first few weeks of the semester. If you are unsure, email the module tutor. 

 There is no written exam for this module.

Lecture Notes and Powerpoints