1) the individual’s symptom experience, including pain, emotion, and recognition of experience as symptomatic of illness; 2) the individual’s assumption of a sick role. During this second stage,the individual also explores his or her lay referral system
for validation of the sick role and for exploration of treatment options. 3) medical care contact. During this stage the individual seeks a professional health care system. However, the pace at which a person enters this stage is determined by their membership within parochial and cosmopolitan social networks. If a person’s social network is parochial, they will tend to delay medical care contact by continuing the first two stages for longer than a person who is a member of a cosmopolitan network; 4) the assumption of a dependent-patient role via acceptance of professional health care treatment. It is possible for this stage to be disrupted if the individual and the professional health care provider have differing opinions of the illness; 5) the individual’s recovery from illness. The individual recovers upon relinquishing their role as patient. However, if an illness is not curable, a person may assume a chronically ill role (Wolinsky, 1988b).