From the functionalist perspective, sickness is viewed as:

From the functionalist perspective, sickness is viewed as:

• A. A voluntary personal failure.
• B. A non-issue in social order.
• C. A sanctioned form of deviance that helps maintain social stability.
• D. A permanent condition that cannot be managed.

Answer: (C)

From a functionalist view, sickness is seen as a socially sanctioned form of deviance that helps maintain social stability. The idea, often framed through the sick role, is that illness temporarily exempts a person from normal social obligations but comes with expectations: the sick person should want to recover and seek appropriate medical help. This arrangement stabilizes society by reducing the disruption caused by illness and by guiding the individual back to their roles once health returns. So sickness isn’t just a personal failing or an invisible issue; it’s a recognizable state that society tolerates and manages to keep the social system functioning.

From a functionalist view, sickness is seen as a socially sanctioned form of deviance that helps maintain social stability. The idea, often framed through the sick role, is that illness temporarily exempts a person from normal social obligations but comes with expectations: the sick person should want to recover and seek appropriate medical help. This arrangement stabilizes society by reducing the disruption caused by illness and by guiding the individual back to their roles once health returns. So sickness isn’t just a personal failing or an invisible issue; it’s a recognizable state that society tolerates and manages to keep the social system functioning.