Final answer:
Talcott Parsons described four aspects of the sick role that encompass the balance of rights and obligations of sick individuals, including exemption from societal roles and the expectation to seek recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Talcott Parsons' Aspects of the Sick Role
The four aspects of the sick role that Talcott Parsons described focus on the behavior and responsibilities of individuals who are unwell. In accordance with Parsons' functionalist perspective, these aspects balance the rights of the sick person with their societal obligations. First, Parsons emphasized that being sick is not a choice and the individual should not be blamed for their illness. Secondly, the sick person has the right to be exempt from normal social roles and responsibilities. However, this exemption is contingent on the severity of the sickness, is temporary, and must be legitimized by a physician's diagnosis. Lastly, the sick individual is expected to endeavor to get well and must seek competent medical help to achieve this goal. Failure to adhere to these expectations could result in social stigma, underscoring the idea that the sick role is a form of social control within functionalism as seen through the lens of Parsons' work.