Explain how sociological and lay ideas about illness differ from those Essay

Explain how sociological and lay ideas about illness differ from those of biomedicine - Essay Example (1988), p142-143). The lay concepts blamed individuals for inflicting illnesses upon themselves and therefore, were forced to believe in these concepts. Individuals, all over the world, use a number of theories, models and concepts of health and illness. These concepts include lay concepts which are also known as folk concepts and other concepts or models put forward by biomedicine. These concepts are used by individuals explain the importance of maintaining ourselves and to give more information different kinds of illnesses. Lay concepts of health and illness are further explained through a number of theories including Biomedical, Humoral, Ayurvedic etc. Other theories used by individuals are locally developed and although these are not related to the major theories of health and illness, but they do explain the mechanisms of body and other related health issues. These lay concepts explain the immediate causes of an illness but furthermore, it also provides the appropriate treatment methods and procedures and also provides the level of severity and the explanation of the overall illness. These concepts provide ideas about the funct ioning of the body and the symptoms which are to be given importance. The lay concepts of health focus more on the why and the how of illness because it is believed that the causes of illness should be researched upon and this involves active participation of the patient himself. The lay concepts and theories about health and illness differ widely in various cultures and localities and also vary for different socioeconomic levels. A number of researches have been done to reveal the differences between these lay concepts of illnesses and those provided by biomedicine. A research conducted in the United States showed that individuals belonging to lower socioeconomic classes tend to give importance to these