Week 6 Notes

Question 1

Symbolic Interactionism

Answer 1

humans create reality through their actions and the meanings they give to them. therefore society is the cumulative effect of human action, interaction and interpretation

Question 2

Underlying assumptions of symbolic interactionism

Answer 2

1. Humans act of the basis of meaning rather than instinct
2. meanings arise out of interaction (and are a dynamic and relationship rather than fixed and unchangeable)
3. individuals interpret meaning
4. we develop a sense of self through interaction through others

Question 3

Social Construction

Answer 3

People actively construct reality (such that reality) is neither natural nor inevitable

** emphasis on human agency

Question 4

Social Construction of illness

Answer 4

what we understand as health and illness varies over time across cultures

Question 5

Disease

Answer 5

a biophysical condition diagnosed by a medical practitioner

Question 6

Illness

Answer 6

the subjective response to a disease

–> how people perceive, experience, make sense of and response to disease

Question 7

Experience of Illness

Answer 7

people can experience and perceive illness differently

ex. osteoarthritis

Question 8

Stigma

Answer 8

a physical or social trait, such as a disability that results in negative social reactions such as discrimination and exclusion

Question 9

three kinds of stigmas

Answer 9

1. Abominations of the body
2. blemishes of individual character
3. tribal stigma of race, nation and religion

Question 10

why do people not report mental illness

Answer 10

1. assumed to be lying or seeking out special privileges
2. embarrassed or fearful or judgment
3. concerns about confidentiality

Question 11

Language and Stigma

Answer 11

poor language choices encourage stigma by creating a false image of the person

Question 12

Medical model of disability

Answer 12

disability defined as individual pathology

Question 13

the social model of disability

Answer 13

disability defined as social pathology

** disability is the product of a systemic discrimination that isolates and excludes disabled people from full participation in society

** standards of normalcy change over space and time

Question 14

Critiques of medical model

Answer 14

1. narrow definition of normalcy and functional

2. equating disability with abnormality results in and reinforces negative stereotypes and stigma

Question 15

Critiques of social model of disability

Answer 15

1. personal experiences are often discounted

2. minimizes physical aspects of disability