Question 1

According to sociologists, doctors are

Accepted Answer

Doctors are considered social control agents because they have the authority to determine what is considered normal or abnormal behavior or health status, and they can enforce societal norms and rules through medical practice.

Question 2

Which of the following policies would legislators who believe heart disease is primarily caused by individual lifestyle choices be most likely to support?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Early nineteenth century doctors argued that cholera typically attacked only individuals who

Accepted Answer

Early nineteenth century doctors believed in the miasma theory, which stated that diseases were caused by bad air or vapors. However, they also believed that individuals who lived healthy lives and avoided bad habits such as alcohol and excessive eating were less likely to contract cholera. They believed that a weakened body from improper living habits could make an individual more vulnerable to the disease.

Question 4

According to the sociological model of illness, illness is a

Accepted Answer

The sociological model of illness views illness not just as a biological condition but also as a form of deviance, a subjectively defined condition, a social construction, and a moral status. This perspective emphasizes the role of social factors and societal perceptions in defining and responding to illnesses.

Question 5

Explanations for illness that emphasize individual blame have

Accepted Answer

Explanations for illness that emphasize individual blame have encouraged policy makers to ignore social and environmental causes of illness.

Question 6

Treating behavior problems among children as an illness is an example of

Accepted Answer

Medicalization refers to the process of defining a behavior or condition as a medical problem that requires medical treatment. In this case, behavior problems among children are being defined as an illness, which is an example of medicalization.

Question 7

Talcott Parsons' term for how society views sick people and how sick people should behave is

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons coined the term "the sick role" to describe the set of expectations and attitudes society holds towards sick individuals, as well as the social norms and behaviors expected of them. In this role, individuals are excused from normal duties and obligations, but are expected to actively seek treatment and work towards getting well. The sick role is a form of legitimate deviance, where individuals are allowed to deviate from normal expectations due to their illness.

Question 8

According to Talcott Parsons, sick persons are

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons' concept of the "sick role" includes all of these aspects: individuals are excused from normal social roles, not held responsible for their illness, and expected to seek help and cooperate in getting well.

Question 9

The history of ADHD as a "disease" shows that

Accepted Answer

The history of ADHD as a "disease" clearly shows that drug companies played an important role in medicalizing the condition, through their funding of research and promotion of medication as a treatment.

Question 10

Which of the following can be important supporters of medicalization?

Accepted Answer

Doctors, lay groups, and pharmaceutical companies can all be important supporters of medicalization. Doctors may believe that medical intervention is necessary for certain conditions, lay groups may advocate for medicalization to ensure access to treatment for their members, and pharmaceutical companies may stand to profit from the sale of medications to treat newly medicalized conditions.

Question 11

According to the medical model of illness,

Accepted Answer

The medical model of illness typically emphasizes a uniform approach to diagnosis and treatment, suggesting that doctors, when presented with the same set of symptoms, should ideally reach the same diagnosis regardless of their geographical location. This model focuses on the biological aspects of disease, often neglecting the social, psychological, and cultural dimensions.

Question 12

Which of the following is a negative social sanction?

Accepted Answer

Execution is a negative social sanction as it involves punishment for a behavior deemed unacceptable by society. Bribes, illness, and disease are not necessarily social sanctions, and socialization is typically viewed as a positive process.

Question 13

We can tell that a condition is deviant by seeing if those who exhibit the condition

Accepted Answer

The answer of We can tell that a condition is...

Question 14

Which of the following is a contested illness?

Accepted Answer

Fibromyalgia is a contested illness as its symptoms cannot be confirmed through medical tests and diagnosis is based solely on patient-reported symptoms. Some medical professionals do not consider it a legitimate illness. HIV disease, measles, leprosy, and influenza are all widely recognized and accepted illnesses with established diagnostic criteria.

Question 15

In the nineteenth century, medical textbooks generally described masturbation as a sign of illness. Modern textbooks, however, do not. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Demedicalization refers to the process of a condition or behavior no longer being considered a medical issue. In this case, masturbation was once viewed as a sign of illness, but modern textbooks no longer consider it as such, indicating a shift toward demedicalization.

Question 16

The belief that illness is caused by sin is especially evident in the history of

Accepted Answer

The belief that illness is caused by sin is particularly evident in the history of leprosy. Throughout history, people have associated leprosy with sin and divine punishment, leading to social ostracism and discrimination against those with the disease.

Question 17

Which of the following is an underlying assumption of functionalism?

Accepted Answer

Functionalism assumes that society functions as an integrated whole, with each part serving a specific function to maintain social stability and order. This perspective emphasizes the importance of social institutions, such as family, education, and religion, in maintaining social cohesion and functioning.

Question 18

Widespread genetic testing may lead to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Widespread genetic testing may lead to
...

Question 19

Medicalization refers to

Accepted Answer

Medicalization is the process of defining a condition or behavior as an illness, which can lead to it being treated by medical doctors and potentially result in the development of new drugs to treat it. This can have both positive and negative effects, as it can lead to increased access to treatment but also to overdiagnosis and unnecessary medical interventions.

Question 20

Across history, people have most commonly believed that illness was

Accepted Answer

Throughout history, many cultures have viewed illness as a form of punishment for sins or bad behavior, reflecting moral or religious interpretations rather than scientific understanding.

Quiz 5: The Social Meanings of Illness