Final answer:
A disease is a biological process leading to an abnormality in body function or structure, while illness behavior is the individual's psychological experience and social response to the disease. Illness behavior is influenced by factors like culture and personality and encompasses the actions taken by an individual in response to feeling sick.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between a disease and illness behavior revolves around the distinction between a biological process and the psychological response and social expression of that process. A disease is an abnormality in the body’s structure or function, which can be due to various causes such as pathogens, genetics, or environmental factors. These may manifest as either acute or chronic conditions. On the other hand, illness behavior refers to the ways individuals act, think, and feel when they perceive themselves as ill. This includes how they handle symptoms, seek treatment, and adjust their lifestyle to cope with the illness. It is shaped by the person's psychological state, the cultural context, and can influence the outcome of the disease.
Illness behavior is not merely a reaction to disease but is heavily informed by the social and cultural environment an individual lives in. This includes the meanings attributed to the illness, societal expectations, and the individual's personality. For instance, cultural norms can dictate how readily a person may express pain or discomfort, how serious they perceive certain conditions to be, or how they might seek and adhere to treatment. Additionally, concepts like sickness and malady can extend beyond the clinical manifestations to include the social perception and comprehensive experience of ill health.