Medicalization

1
Medicalization

• Peter Conrad Joseph Schneider

2
Medicalization

• Stages
• Define behavior as deviant
• Prospecting
• Medical discovery
• Claims-making
• Non-medical interests (pharmaceuticals)
• Medical interests
• Legitimacy
• Institutionalization

3
Generalizations

• Cyclical phenomenon
• From illness to immorality back again
• Foils against criminal definitions
• Small segment of profession involved
• Medical definitions of behavior based on
  compulsivity
• Usually no uncontested evidence of physical
  illness
• Medicalization (and de-) political, not
  scientific achievements
• Class-related
• Profit-related

4
Evaluating Medicalization

• Strengths
• Humanitarian benefits
• Fairness
• Reduced stigma
• Weaknesses/Problems
• Expert control
• Medical social control
• Individualizes
• Depoliticizes