Concepts
Health psychology/Models & behaviour · Behavioural model
Illness behaviour
What it means
Mechanic’s concept: the ways people perceive, evaluate and respond to symptoms — when they decide they are ill and what they do about it. "Abnormal illness behaviour" when disproportionate.
Worked example
Two people with identical symptoms: one ignores them, one presents repeatedly and seeks extensive investigation.
In the exam
Given the same minor symptom, one man dismisses it while another monitors it anxiously and attends repeatedly — illustrating differing responses to the same sensation.
What settles it
Illness behaviour is the INDIVIDUAL’s perception/response to symptoms. The sick role is the SOCIETAL set of rights and duties once "ill".
Classically confused with
Sick role
Source: Mechanic