Medicalization

Hey Class, here are some practice questions.

Also, please remember that part of your participation is tied to your blog participation so make sure you leave comments! Some of you have been leaving some very interesting observations...

1. Define medicalization of society?

2. What is the main premise of social constructionism?

3. In the second half of the twentieth century medicalization has proliferated. What are TWO indicators/trends which evidence this phenomenon?

4. Define demedicalization

5. Define social control

6. Describe how the dominance of the ‘scientific’ paradigm in the West has helped to further medicalization.

7. The capacity to create (medical) knowledge in the West is socially distributed. List three groups who have produced medical ‘knowledge’. Give examples of the ‘knowledge’ each group has created.

8. In what ways have ‘deviance’ and ‘crime’ been medicalized?

9. How is informal social control different from formal social control?

Extended Essays

A. Direct to consumer advertising has increased exponentially in recent years. Consider the (positive and negative) effects of this trend for society.

B. With reference to a specific case-study, describe how pharmaceutical companies have contributed to processes of medicalization.

C. The institution of (bio)medicine has been afforded increasing authority to define categories of deviance/normalcy. Consider why and how this has occurred AND consider the effects of this trend on society.