Sociology / Unit 9 Soc 1584 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Fundamental Cause Theory
Captions available
The idea
Link and Phelan argued that social position is a fundamental cause of health, because resources let advantaged groups take up whatever protection is newly available.
In practice
Each new screening, drug, or safety measure reaches those best placed to use it first, so a gap reopens after every advance.
Where people slip
The theory explains why disparities persist across eras and diseases, not any one illness.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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