Mental illness and the power of the medical profession

Overview

The social construction of mental illness, labelling theory, medicalisation, and Illich on iatrogenesis.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is mental illness?

   Model answer

   Conditions affecting mood, thinking and behaviour that cause distress or impair functioning, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and eating disorders.

2. 2

   What does the social construction of mental illness argue?

   Model answer

   That definitions of mental illness reflect social norms and that behaviour labelled as mental illness varies across cultures and historical periods.

3. 3

   How does labelling theory apply to mental illness?

   Model answer

   It suggests that psychiatric diagnosis is a form of social control that stigmatises individuals and creates a deviant identity.

4. 4

   What does the social distribution of mental illness show?

   Model answer

   Higher rates among women, lower social classes, certain ethnic groups and those living in urban areas.

5. 5

   What are the two main explanations for class differences in mental illness?

   Model answer

   Social causation (stress of deprivation causes mental illness) and social selection (mental illness causes downward mobility).

6. 6

   What gender differences exist in mental illness diagnosis?

   Model answer

   Women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety while men are more likely to be diagnosed with substance abuse and antisocial disorders.

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