| CODE | SOC5011 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Exploring the Lived Experience of Illness | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will be divided into three topic clusters: - The first will use interactionist theory to explore the impact of chronic illness and disability on the development of self and identity. It will also use sociological concepts to critically examine the altered lifecourse in the wake of chronic illness; - The second will focus on the social construction of illness, and the power relations and social processes that play a role in the lived experience of illness; - The third will introduce the use of narrative analysis to explore the illness experiences of both persons with chronic illnesses, and their informal and formal carers. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - Apply sociological theory to explore the impacts of chronic illness on the sense of self and identity [G.H. Mead, Goffman, Becker]; - Introduce concepts such as ‘biographical disruption’ and ‘expert patient’ to highlight the impacts of chronic illness on lifecourse and shifting power dynamics within medical encounters; - Explore the intersections and differences between illness and disability; - Critically examine the issue of personal responsibility/agency in avoiding becoming ill; - Critically explore the power relations between those who are ill or disabled and those responsible for their care; - Focus on Illness narratives as a means of understanding the subjectivities of individuals with chronic illness, their cultural context, and the power dynamics within their primary group which impact directly on quality of care and independence. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically engage with academic discussion of lived experience of chronic illness; - recognize the plurality of illness narratives and their sociological implications; - apply the social constructivist model of disability to analysing real life situations; - apply the double hermeneutic technique to interpreting illness narratives and understanding the implications of these narratives in constructing subjectivities; - potentially transpose this practical reasoning to formulating interventions within multidisciplinary teams which target the holistic needs of individuals with chronic chronic illness and their carers. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - use online and library resources selectively and critically to augment study-unit material, navigate with confidence through online resources and understand how to distinguish between generic web sites and serious academic and professional tools; - contribute effectively and confidently during focused group discussions, using logical arguments and applying the relevant theories; - present a reasoned and well structured assignment on a set topic using recognized citation and referencing methods effectively and consistently; - deliver a presentation of a set topic , working as a member of a team and using IT tools effectively. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - WILLIAMS, S. and BENDELOW, G. 1998. The lived body : sociological themes, embodied issues. London: Taylor and Francis. - LUPTON, D., 2012. Medicine as culture: Illness, disease and the body. London, New Delhi, Thousand Oaks: Sage. - TEGHTSOONIAN, K.A. and MOSS, P., 2008. Contesting illness: processes and practices. University of Toronto Press. - SONTAG, S., 2001. Illness as metaphor and AIDS and its metaphors. Macmillan. Supplementary Readings: - CHARMAZ, K., 1995. The body, identity, and self. The Sociological Quarterly, 36(4), pp. 657-680. - WATSON, N., 2002. Well, I know this is going to sound very strange to you, but I don't see myself as a disabled person: Identity and disability. Disability & Society, 17(5), pp. 509-527. - SCAMBLER G. & SCAMBLER, S.(Eds). 2010. New Directions in the Sociology of Chronic and disabling conditions: assaults on the Lifeworld. New York : Palgrave Macmillan. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Seminar and Tutorial | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Kay Polidano Kurt Borg |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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