What Are The Three Major Sociological Theories In Healthcare

Healthcare and Sociological Theories
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
December 16, 2013

Healthcare is a current hot button issue in America. While almost anyone would agree that changes are needed in the healthcare system, the opinions on how to go about it vary. This is due to the diverse opinions of healthcare’s proper role in this society. Even the three major sociological theories – Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism - have three distinct perspectives on this subject. By looking at the effect of each theory on healthcare, it is clear that healthcare issues are too complex to be explained by only one theory. According to functionalism, healthcare services are essential for society to function
Functionalism would support the use of drugs and vaccines, because that has become the expected method of treating and preventing illness. Conflict theory would show how the pharmaceutical companies are most concerned with their profits, and this is why a different perspective would be silenced. As for the Interactionist perspective, it could support either side of this controversy. On one hand, this theory is the most likely to question traditional methods and to embrace change. On the other hand, it is very focused on people’s perceptions. In the HPV vaccine scenario, the media is trying to control those perceptions about vaccines and the reputation of pharmaceutical companies. If people are mostly given a biased perspective that supports the status quo (i.e. vaccines are essential for good health), they will be less likely to seek
Yvonee Vissing (2011) explains that Interactionism “focuses on how people make sense of interactions in specific situations. Essentially, we react to things on the basis of meanings or labels that we ascribe to those things.” From this perspective, doctors diagnose patients based off of social constructions. This means if a patient believes that he/she has a mental or physical illness, the reported symptoms would not matter much to the doctor. Instead the doctor would base his/her diagnosis off how the current society defines it. Some physicians use symbols that society defines instead of figuring out what is actually wrong with the patient. Another aspect of Interactionism is how the doctor interacts with the patient. It is common for the patient to feel intimidated by the formality of the interactions with his/her doctor. Also the doctor’s use of complex medical terminology may make the patient feel intellectually inferior and confused about his/her diagnosis. There is also a sense that the doctor is rushed and does not have enough time to really hear the patient’s concerns. All of these experiences with doctors cause people to believe that they will not be able to find a doctor who is truly concerned about them and their health problems. Therefore, Interactionism is the social theory that has the most open approach to change, because it is based on personal