Final answer:
The characteristic 'Obligation to spread illness to others' is not part of Talcott Parsons' concept of the sick role. The correct elements include exemption from social roles, the right to seek care, and the obligation to want to recover.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to sociologist Talcott Parsons, the "sick role" comes with certain rights and responsibilities when an individual is ill. One of the primary characteristics that is not part of the sick role is the Obligation to spread illness to others. This is in direct conflict with the overall goal of the sick role, which is to reduce the negative impact of illness on society.
The correct attributes of the sick role, as per Parsons, include (1) being exempt from normal social roles, (2) not being responsible for one's own condition, (3) having the right to seek medical care and advice, and (4) having the obligation to want to get well, which involves working with the medical community to achieve recovery. These attributes underscore both the temporary nature of the exemption from societal roles and the aim of the sick individual to return to health as quickly as possible.