Untitled Flashcards Set

Sociology of Health

The study of how health and illness are shaped by social influences, cultural norms, and societal structures.

Biomedical Model of Health

A set of principles underpinning western medical systems that define diseases objectively and assert treatment is based on scientific methods.

Medicalization

The process by which human traits and behaviors are defined as medical conditions that require treatment.

Sick Care System

A healthcare system primarily focused on treating illness rather than preventative care.

Sick Role (Talcott Parsons)

A concept that describes the expected behaviors and perspectives of a person who is labeled as sick.

Illness Work

The management of a medical condition by the affected individual.

Everyday Work

The management of daily life, including routines and responsibilities.

Biographical Work

The process of integrating one's illness into their personal identity.

Stigmatization of Health

The process by which certain health conditions are associated with negative stereotypes and lead to discrimination.

Social Class Gradient in Health

The trend that lower social classes tend to experience poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates.

Heteronormativity

The belief that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of human sexuality.

Demography

The scientific study of populations, including their sizes, distributions, and compositions.

Crude Birth Rate

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.

Crude Death Rate

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a given year.

Infant Mortality Rate

The number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births in the first year of life.

Natural Population Growth Rate

The difference between the birth rate and death rate in a population.

Dependency Ratio

The ratio of dependent individuals (e.g., children, elderly) to those of working age.

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing percentage of a population lives in urban areas.

Megalopolis

A large metropolitan area, often comprising multiple cities and their suburbs.

Urban Ecology

A study of urban areas that examines the relationships and changes within cities.

Participatory Democracy

A political system where all members of a community are involved in making major decisions.

Representative Democracy

A system in which citizens elect officials to make political decisions on their behalf.

Political Rights

Rights entitled to all citizens that enable participation in the political process.

Economic Deprivation Theory

A framework suggesting that economic inequality leads to social movements.

Resource Mobilization Theory

A theory emphasizing the importance of groups' ability to mobilize resources for social change.

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies around the world.