structural functionalism difference from conflict theory

“Being Sick” is not simply a “condition” it contains within itself customary rights and obligations based on the social norms that surround it. The general idea is that the individual who has fallen ill is not only physically sick, but now adheres to the specifically patterned social role of being sick. Therefore this deviance needs to be policed, which is the role of the medical profession.

This is because, from a functionalist perspective, a sick individual is not a productive member of society.

Parsons was a functionalist sociologist who argued that being sick means that the sufferer enters a role of “sanctioned deviance”. This is the main difference between both concepts. It is a concept created by the American sociologist Talcott Parsons in 1951. Structural functionalism and conflict theory have opposing views on the dynamics of society since the first concept believes that society is inclined towards stability, and the second reason is that there is constant conflict. Sick role is a term used in medical sociology regarding sickness and the rights and obligations of the affected. I ndividuals background, particularly for the resources available (Diabetes, 2009)ĭeprivation is strongly associated with higher levels of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking and poor blood pressure control, all of which are linked to the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes The lack of resources available, such as health checks, assisting in the management these factors creates a large disadvantage for those living in a deprived area. The nature of diabetes can lead to sickness either short or long term, recognising the sick role from a functionalist point of view and tension created within the social system (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022).Īdditionally, the cause of diabetes mostly relates to a deprived background and the increasing levels of smoking, obesity and poor blood pressure control (Diabetes, 2009). Three paradigms have come to dominate sociological thinking, because they provide useful explanations: structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic. and Bellingham-Young, D (2017) descries how those from a less privileged background from factors such as income, education, housing conditions and unemployment have a higher risk of developing diabetes.īoth theories highlight the socioeconomic factors contributing to the increasing rates of diabetes. Karl Marx bases conflict theory on a hierarchy of the rich and poor (Hayes, 2022) and the uneven distribution of resources available.

Structural functionalism difference from conflict theory