Mental Illness has been the subject of several scientific disciplines. Three main approaches on mental illness can be distinguished: The biological approach, which looks for the determinants of mental illness in the physical body, the psychological approach, which looks for the determinants in the (internal) mind and the sociological, who looks for them in the (external) environment or the person's social situation. The sociological investigation of mental illness can be traced back to Durkheim and his study on suicide (originally published in 1897), in which he shows, how suicide rates are shaped by the structural and cultural constitution of a society. Durkheim also advocated the view on mental illness as a special form of breaking the societal norms and values. A perspective which had been picked up in Parsons (1951) analysis of illness as deviance. Most sociologists share the conception of mental illness as the absence of conformity to social norms and values. However, especially until the 1980es, sociology in general and medical sociology in particular, has often been accused of neglecting the field of mental health and illness (Bendelow 2004). Within the current sociological approach on mental illness three dominant theories exist: Stress Theory, Structural Strain Theory and the Social constructivist perspective, in particular labeling theory (e.g. Scheff 1966) and the work of Michelle Foucault (1969).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sociological Approaches on Mental Illness
2.1 The Social constructivist Approach
2.2 Structural Strain Theory
2.3 Social Stress Theory
3. The life course approach on mental illness
3.1 Empirical Findings
Objectives & Research Topics
This paper aims to explore the sociological determinants of mental illness by integrating various theoretical frameworks, with a primary focus on the life course approach. It investigates how environmental factors, social structures, and individual life transitions shape the trajectory, development, and societal perception of mental disorders over time.
- Theoretical analysis of social constructivism, structural strain, and social stress models regarding mental health.
- The impact of socioeconomic status and life events on the onset of mental disorders.
- Evaluation of medicalization and labeling processes in psychiatric classifications.
- Examination of the life course perspective on the dynamics and sequencing of psychiatric conditions.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The Social constructivist Approach
The labeling theory, first applied to the field of mental illness by Thomes J. Scheff in 1966, focuses on how people of a certain behavior are labeled as deviant, or in this particular case as mentally ill, and the consequences such a label has for the individual. It stigmatizes the individual and labels them as an outsider. Mentally ill are stigmatized for being dangerous and unpredictable and there’s the preferences to keep social distance from them, even though data suggests, that the crime rate in the group of the mentally ill is lower than in the general population and that they are much more often victims of crime than perpetrators (Rosenfield 1997). This view does not only shape the interaction of others with the labeled person and their perception of him, but also the person’s behavior. For example the person may identify with the label given to him, and act correspondingly. Therefore a vicious circle can arise and even relatively insignificant divergent behavior, once labeled as insane could lead to further and more severe deviant behavior and a 'mental illness career' (Scheff 1966.).
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the scientific disciplines concerned with mental illness and introduces the three dominant sociological theories: Stress Theory, Structural Strain Theory, and the Social constructivist perspective.
2. Sociological Approaches on Mental Illness: This section details specific sociological theories, examining how labeling, social strain, and environmental stressors contribute to the understanding and categorization of mental illness.
3. The life course approach on mental illness: This chapter discusses the dynamic nature of mental health states and how the life course perspective integrates biological, psychological, and sociological tools to analyze the timing and duration of life events.
3.1 Empirical Findings: This section presents evidence regarding the correlation between socioeconomic status and mental health, including studies on income effects, multi-generation family trends, and the influence of early adulthood transitions.
Keywords
Mental illness, Life course approach, Sociology, Social constructivism, Labeling theory, Structural strain, Social stress, Medicalization, Socioeconomic status, Psychiatric disorders, Stigmatization, Mental illness career, Social causation, Drift model, Early adulthood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines mental illness from a sociological perspective, aiming to identify the environmental and social determinants that influence the development and trajectory of psychiatric conditions.
What are the central theoretical themes covered?
The work focuses on three primary sociological approaches: the Social constructivist approach (including labeling theory), Structural Strain Theory, and Social Stress Theory.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to utilize the life course approach to better understand the dynamics of mental health, specifically how social, economic, and historical contexts shape individual mental health trajectories.
Which scientific methods are primarily utilized?
The paper employs a comprehensive review of existing sociological literature, theoretical frameworks, and analysis of empirical findings from various longitudinal studies and experimental designs.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of sociological perspectives on mental illness, the integration of these theories through the life course approach, and empirical research regarding socioeconomic influences on mental health.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include mental illness, life course approach, sociology, social constructivism, labeling theory, structural strain, and socioeconomic status.
How does the author define the "mental illness career"?
Based on Scheff (1966), it is defined as a process where an individual, once labeled as insane due to minor divergent behavior, may identify with that label, potentially leading to further and more severe deviant behavior.
What does the "social causation model" suggest regarding socioeconomic status?
This model argues that lower social class serves as a contributor to the development of mental illness, rather than just being a result of it.
How is the "drift model" explained in relation to mental health?
In contrast to the social causation model, the drift model argues that having a mental illness causes an individual to experience a downward shift in their social class.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bachelor of Arts Sebastian Steidle (Autor:in), 2016, The Life Course Approach on Mental Illness, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/372103
