Talcott Parsons Sick Role
• Talcott Parsons says
that being ‘sick’ is a
socially
conditioned role.
• He says we behave
in a certain way
once we know we
are ‘sick’.
Talcott Parsons’ Theory:
The Sick Role
• Parsons said that society applies ‘rules’ to people
who are ill.
• The sick person AND the society have obligations:
• Sick Person: To seek appropriate medical help AND
to want to get better.
• Society: To excuse the sick person from normal
social roles (eg worker, mother etc) AND to not hold
the patient responsible for their condition AND for
the sick person to be taken care of
• These obligations must be fulfilled for the person to
be allowed to be in the ‘sick role’.
Talcott Parsons’ Theory:
The Sick Role
The sick role is a
functionalist theory
If this person is sick
then they cannot put
into society in the way
they usually do.
Society
But they can receive
from society in the
same way.
The sick role is
therefore seen as a
deviant role.
A functionalist would want the sick
person to get better so they can
start contributing to society again.
Talcott Parsons’ Theory:
The Sick Role
• If you were the
person in the sick
role, what roles
would YOU be
exempt from?
• What would you
be excused from
having to do?
Society
Analysing The Sick Role
Lets go back to the obligations of the sick
person: To seek appropriate medical help
AND to want to get better.
How many people don’t seek medical help?
What reasons do they have? (Hint, think of
the clinical iceberg from unit 7)
Do sick people always want to get better?
Describe situations when they don’t.
Analysing The Sick Role
Lets go back to the obligations of the society:
To excuse the sick person from normal social roles
AND to not hold the sick person responsible for their
condition.
Are people always excused from
their normal social roles?
List situations when they are not.
Does society always not hold the
person responsible for their
condition?
List situations when they are.