Sociology 2246A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Talcott Parsons, Medical Sociology, Sociological Perspectives
23 Jan 2019
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Chapter 2 - theorizing health: major theoretic perspectives in health sociology. A theory is an explanation of how things work and why they happen while allowing us to make sense of the world. Theories developed on a daily basis can influence how people tolerate and relate to each other. These are often based on prejudices or assumptions and lack supporting evidence that is reliable. Sociological theories can appear to complicate the world - but they explain social life through a logical account of researched evidence. The aim of a theory is to simplify and generalize reality. Theoretical perspectives involve individual theories regarding simplification by focusing on similarities. The main difference b/w perspectives is the questions that they address and their purpose. Theoretical perspectives also vary in their analysis of the structure-agency debate. Sociologists often disagree with the extent to which people have control over their own lives. Sociological perspectives range on a continuum regarding the structure-agency debate.
