Theories of health and disability: functionalist

Functionalist Perspective on Health

The Functionalist Theory looks at society as an integrated whole, operating through a complex system of interconnected parts.
This approach typically views illness as a form of deviance that disturbs the social equilibrium.
Talcott Parsons was a key proponent of the functionalist perspective on health, and he proposed the concept of the “sick role” to explain the social context of illness.

The Sick Role

The ‘sick role’ demarcates certain expectations from the society towards the sick person and vice versa.
A person who is “sick” is seen as not responsible for their illness and is exempted from usual responsibilities.
However, they are also expected to take reasonable steps to get better, like consulting a doctor and cooperatively following the recommended treatment.
Parson’s theory provided a useful framework to understand societal attitudes towards illness. Yet, critics argue that not everyone can access the ‘sick role’ equally, depending on their socio-economic status or type of illness.

Functionalist View on Disability

In the functionalist perspective, disability, similar to illness, is seen as an aberration within society causing disturbance in the social equilibrium.
However, functionalists also consider the adaptation and integration of disabled individuals, focusing on how they can contribute to society.
Critics of the functionalist view argue that it leads to the medicalisation of disability i.e., viewing disability only as a medical problem in need of a cure, while underplaying societal barriers disabled people may face.

Conclusively, while the functionalist perspective provides valuable insights on the societal perspective of health and disability, it is important to regard it as one of several sociological lenses – alongside materialist, behaviourist/cultural, or psychosocial explanations – each providing a unique facet of understanding health and disability.