SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF ILLNESS

Sociological Theories of Illness

Sociological Theories of Illness

No human condition is intrinsically problematic in any group. It becomes socially problematic when it is defined as such, whether by the population at large or by some segment of the population that is particularly influential in developing and implementing social policy directed toward forestalling or alleviating the conditions evaluated as undesirable. The condition may be labeled as socially undesirable either because it is intrinsically noxious or has intrinsically distressful consequences. Mental illness has been defined as such a problematic condition because it is intrinsically distressing, it impedes the proper performance of social roles, whether by the afflicted individual or those with whom the individual interacts, or otherwise has consequences that are deemed dysfunctional for the social system. Not the least of these consequences are the social costs of providing responses (preventative or therapeutic programs) aimed at forestalling or assuaging the symptoms of mental illness. Thus, major depression is now said to be the primary cause of disability, and mental disorders account for 4 of the top 10 causes of disability internationally (Adelmann, 1987, 529).

Mental illness is socially problematic not only because of its consequences but also in the sense that among the causes are a wide range of social conditions and circumstances. The resolution of the social problem requires that these factors be recognized and taken into account in the formulation of policies aimed at forestalling or assuaging the magnitude of the problem.

Mental illness is socially problematic because of the absence of a broad consensus on the nature of mental illness. Without consensus, it is not possible to gauge the extent of mental illness in the population and therefore to plan for the number and kind of preventative or remedial services that would be required to obviate or relieve the symptoms. Nor would it be possible, in the absence of consensus, to address the causes that form the basis for social planning to prevent or eradicate the conditions that might consensually be defined as mental illness.

Theoretical Approach

Although there is constant interaction between the mental health disciplines, several recent analyses of the state of theory in the sociology of mental health in the late twentieth century indicate the emergence of a distinct sociological approach. Harder (1984, 223) outlined two major approaches in the study of the sociology of mental health and illness. These two approaches are: (1) the social contexts producing or shaping mental health and disorder and (2) the recognition, treatment, and policy response to mental illness and disorder. In the same volume, Breen (1968, 282) described three major approaches that uniquely characterize the sociology of mental health: (1) stress exposure (2) structural strain theory, which derives from Clark (1994, 808); and (3) societal reaction, or labeling theory. The distinguishing issue in the sociological approach to mental illness is attention to how social stratification produces the unequal distribution of both disorders and mental health. A major challenge to the sociological approach to mental disorders is the debate between social ...