Chapt.+14-+Edu,+Health,+and+Medicine


 * **Schooling-** formal instruction under the direction of specially trained teachers
 * All the male characters have had formal instruction in order to become scientists.
 * **Tracking-** assigning students to different types of educational programs
 * Each of the characters studied math and science, but trained and specialized in different fields of study: Howard is an engineer, Raj is an astrophysicist, Leonard is an experimental physicist, Sheldon is a theoretical physicist.
 * **Functional Illiteracy**- lack of the reading and writing skills needed for everyday living.
 * Sheldon considers Penny - and anyone without advanced formal education - functionally illiterate. He is always poking fun at her 'simple' ideas and comments.
 * **Education**- a social institution that has particular importance to people looking to advance their careers.
 * Obviously higher education is a symbol of status and a measure of worth with the characters in the show.


 * ** Medicine- The social institution that focuses on fighting disease and improving health. **
 * In one of the episodes, Sheldon decides to go shopping with Penny. Once he sees her buying multivitamins,he makes fun of her because he claims she's buying expensive pee. This is mainly because multivitamins don't work if you already have sufficient levels of vitamins.
 * ** Health- A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. **
 * Almost all of the characters are healthy seeing as they're well rounded individuals with no obvious diseases.
 * ** Sick Role- Patterns of behavior defined as appropriate for people who are ill. **
 * In one of the episodes Sheldon rudely wakes Leonard because he's experiencing horrible side pains. Through an internet search, he self-diagnosed himself and believes he has a rare disease(cholera).
 * ** Social Epidemiology- The study of how health and disease are distributed throughout a society's population. **
 * At times Sheldon is an epidemiologist because he obsesses over things that may harm him, whether that be driving in a car or being conscious of germs.