SICK ROLE: BEHAVIOR IN THE HOSPITAL

Introduction
The term sick role is created by
sociologist Talcott Parsons in 1951

He argued that being sick means that the

sufferer enters a role of sanctioned
deviance
Definition
A term used in medical sociology
regarding sickness and the rights and
obligations of the affected

- OR -
Being sick is not only a state of fact or
condition it contains within itself
customary rights and obligations
Illness Behavior
Stage 2: Assumption of the sick role
Yes Yes
Symptom Do I need Medical Care
Am I sick?
Experiences medical care? Contact
Stage 1 Stage 3
No No

No Self Medication
Treatment Delay contact with health
professional
Stage 2
Rights of the Sick
Exempted from normal social
roles
Exemption is relative to the
nature and severity of the
illness.
Requires legitimation by the
physician
Rights of the Sick
Is not responsible for their
conditions
An individuals illness is
usually thought to be beyond
his or her control
Obligations of the Sick
Should try to get well

Recognition by the sick person

that being sick is undesirable
That exemption from normal
responsibilities is temporary and
conditional upon the desire to
regain normal health
Obligations of the Sick
Seek technically competent help and
cooperate with medical professionals

The sick person is expected to

cooperate with the physician
in the process of trying to get
well
Versions of Sick Role
Conditional Applies to individuals to
who are suffering from
a temporary condition
from which they can
recover
Versions of Sick Role
Refers to individual
Conditional who are suffering from
Uncondionally legitimate incurable illness and
because the sick person
cannot do anything to
get well he or she is
entitled to occupy the
sick role
Versions of Sick Role
An individual suffering from a
Conditional
condition that is stigmatized by
Uncondionally legitimate others in such cases there is a
Illegitimate role sense that an individual might
somehow bear responsibility for
the illness, additional privileges
and rights are not necessarily
granted
Behavioral Concept:

BODY
IMAGE
Definition
The image of physical self or body
image, is how a person perceives the
size, appearance and functioning of
the body and its parts
Aspects of Body Image
Cognitive Aspect

The knowledge of the

material body and its
attachments
Aspects of Body Image
Cognitive Aspect
Affective Aspect

The sensations of the

body and physical
movement
Body Image and its parts
Clothing And other things
Makeup intimately connected to
the person
Hairstyle
Jewelry
Body Image and its parts
Body prostheses
Artificial limbs
Wheelchair
Cane
Eyeglasses
Development of Body Image
Formed at an early age

At infancy as the parents or

caregivers respond to the child
with smiles, holding and touching
 Development of Body Image
Cultural and societal values

Societal Weight Prejudice (Weightism)

Thin is good, beautiful, moral, and powerful
Fat is ugly, lazy, sloppy, morally weak, undesirable
Style, impression, and image > substance and character
Your appearance (weight, shape) is the most important thing about you

These irrational judgements are a form of prejudice and discrimination, just as

racism and bigotry are. The prejudice against fat and toward thinness is called
weightism and is an unfair and sad aspect of our culture
Development of Body Image
Information and entertainment media

1 out of every 3.8 commercials send some sort of

attractiveness message, telling viewers what is or is
not attractive.
Often the goal of these messages is to make the viewers
feel inadequate so that they will buy products to fix
their problems.
Development of Body Image
Comments from family, friends and others about our bodies,
their bodies and other peoples bodies
Development of Body Image
Self-esteem
Development of Body Image
History of abuse, teasing
Development of Body Image
Physical changes that may be a result of puberty, medical
problems, surgery or sport injuries
 Positive and Negative Body Image
People with positive body image exhibit:

Self confidence, energy, vitality

and positive self-appraisal
Feelings of attractiveness and
beauty
Trust and respect for their bodies
Freedom of expression with their
bodies, not dependent on weight
 Positive and Negative Body Image
People with positive body image exhibit: People with negative body image describe:

Dissatisfaction with their physical

appearance
Self confidence, energy, vitality
Belief that their appearance is being
and positive self-appraisal
scrutinized and evaluated by others
Feelings of attractiveness and
Excessive emphasis on physical
beauty
appearance in how they evaluate
Trust and respect for their bodies
themselves
Freedom of expression with their
Distressing preoccupation with their
bodies, not dependent on weight
bodies
Feelings of shame and or embassment
Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Radical Neck Surgery: Laryngectomy (Post-op Care)
May be related to changes in anatomical contour of face and neck
possibly evidenced by not looking at self in mirror
Body Image (NOC)

Demonstrate initial adaptation to body changes as evidenced by

participating in self-care activities and positive interaction with
others
Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Fecal Diversions: Post-op Care of Ileostomy and Colostomy
May be related to presence of stoma possibly evidenced by
verbalization of change in body image and negative feelings about
body
Body Image (NOC)
Demonstrate beginning acceptance by viewing/touching stoma
and participating in self-care
Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa / Bulimia Nervosa
May be related to morbid fear of obesity possibly evidenced by
distorted body image
Body Image (NOC)
Establish a more realistic body image
Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Eating Disorder: Obesity
May be related to family encouragement of overeating possibly
evidenced by verbalization of negative feelings about body
Body Image (NOC)

Verbalize a more realistic self-image

Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Urinary Diversions/Urotomy (Post-op Care)
May be related to presence of stoma possibly evidenced by
verbalization of change in body image and negative feelings about
body
Body Image (NOC)
Demonstrate beginning acceptance by viewing/touching stoma
and participating in self-care
 Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Burns: Thermal/Chemical/Electrical (Acute and Convalescent Phases

May be related to disfigurement possibly evidenced by negative

feelings about body
Body Image (NOC)

Verbalize acceptance of self in situation

Situations That Disturbs Body Image
Urinary Diversions/Urotomy (Post-op Care)
May be related to presence of stoma possibly evidenced by
verbalization of change in body image and negative feelings about
body
Body Image (NOC)
Demonstrate beginning acceptance by viewing/touching stoma
and participating in self-care
END