Question

Based on what you learned in the readings this week, explain how attitudes toward mental illness have changed over time. Reflect on the term medicalization. Explain how your perception of the situation changed when you found out about the patient’s disability. Discuss ways that employment, poverty, and disability may be related.

Answer 1

Attitudes toward mental illness have evolved from punitive to more medically oriented perspectives through medicalization, although cultural norms continue to influence the perception and treatment of illness. Demedicalization challenges past medical definitions, indicating a fluid social construction of health. Employment, poverty, and disability are interconnected, influencing each other and impacted by social health disparities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Attitudes toward mental illness have significantly evolved over time. Historically, behaviors and conditions outside societal norms were often seen as 'bad' and were subject to stigma and even punishment, as seen in the example of drapetomania among escaped slaves or the view of alcoholics in the 19th century. The process of medicalization has played a crucial role in transforming these 'deviances' into recognized medical conditions, resulting in a shift from moral judgment to a view that these are illnesses requiring medical intervention. However, medicalization also raises questions about the boundary between deviance and illness and the role of societal norms in shaping our understanding of health and illness.

On the other hand, demedicalization is the process where behaviors previously labeled as 'sick' are normalized again. A key example of this is the change in perception of homosexuality, which was declassified as a mental disorder by the American Psychological Association in 1973. This shift highlights how cultural norms and medical understanding are intricately linked and evolve over time.

The relationship between employment, poverty, and disability is complex and interrelated. Employment opportunities can often be limited for those with disabilities, leading to higher rates of poverty. At the same time, poverty can exacerbate the impact of disabilities and mental health conditions due to inadequate access to care and support services. One's social status and existing health disparities can influence both the experience and perception of illness and disability.