Page 14 - Management Theory 2023-2024 Edition

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B. Illness Behavior:

Any activity undertaken by a person, who feels ill, for the purpose of defining the state of his health, and of
discovering suitable remedy, is defined as “Illness Behavior.” The “Sickness Career” helps with understanding
the behavior of people when they are ill. The “Sickness Career” begins with a state of wellness. The changing
from a state of wellness to illness is mainly depends on the presence and types of symptoms.

For example, many people-even those who feel well are able to identify some sort of symptoms at any given
period of time. Often, they will view these symptoms as normal; however it is the intensity of the symptom that
ultimately decides the change of one’s status from being healthy to being sick.

According to Twaddle and Hessler, the following factors help determining the significant change in health status
of an individual:

These factors are:

1. Interference with normal activities and functions (e.g. bowel habits, work ability)

2. Clarity of symptoms (sharp chest pain)

3. Tolerance threshold (some people can tolerate more pain, either because of personal characteristics,
cultural factors, or the nature of their work)

4. Familiarity with symptoms (common symptoms that one has experienced previously, and recovered
from are likely to be viewed as less serious than those that have not been previously experienced

5. Assumption about the cause (e.g. in the case of chest pain, it may be viewed as anything from heart
attack to indigestion)

6. Assumption about prognosis (e.g. if long-term incapacity or possible death is associated with the
symptom, it is likely to be viewed as more serious than the symptom without such intensity

7. Interpersonal influence

C. Sick Role Behavior:

Any activity undertaken by those who consider themselves ill for the purpose of getting well.

According to Talcott Parsons (Sociologist), the Sick Role consists of two rights and two duties.

Rights: 1. Freedom from blame for illness
2. Exemption from normal roles and tasks

These rights are appropriate only if a patient fulfills his/her duties.

Duties: 1. To do everything possible to recover
2. To seek technically competent help

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