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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

184944

Robert Merton

occupational roles, social status and health inequalities

Johannes Siegrist

pp. 222-235

Abstract

Although Robert Merton identified with the emerging sub-discipline of medical sociology less strongly than Talcott Parsons, his influence on this field was significant. Importantly, with his emphasis on social role and social status as basic sociological categories; with his discussion of the concepts of reference group, relative deprivation and social opportunity structure; and with his theory of deviant behaviour as an adaptive response of people with low socio-economic status to structural tensions between societal goals and restricted opportunities, Merton inspired ground-breaking research on social inequalities in health. From his perspective, health was a form of deviant behaviour, and indicators of social status — specifically, occupational position and education — were analysed as significant predictors of unequal health. Several criticisms have been raised against Merton's sociological orientation, but more recent theoretical developments illustrate the fertility of Merton's seminal contributions to the field of health and medical sociology.

Publication details

Published in:

Collyer Fran (2015) The Palgrave handbook of social theory in health, illness and medicine. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 222-235

DOI: 10.1057/9781137355621_14

Full citation:

Siegrist Johannes (2015) „Robert Merton: occupational roles, social status and health inequalities“, In: F. Collyer (ed.), The Palgrave handbook of social theory in health, illness and medicine, Dordrecht, Springer, 222–235.