Question

An example of the "medicalization of deviance" is

a. theft being redefined as a "compulsive stealing."
b. drinking too much being redefined as a personal failing.
c. promiscuity being redefined as a moral failing.
d. when people steal drugs to self-medicate.

Answer 1

The medicalization of deviance occurs when behaviors such as theft are redefined in medical terms, such as 'compulsive stealing,' shifting the view from a legal issue to a medical one.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medicalization of deviance refers to the transformation of moral and legal deviance into a medical condition. An example of this would be when theft is redefined as "compulsive stealing." Compulsive stealing is seen not just as a violation of the law but as a psychological issue that requires medical attention, reflecting a shift from a legal perspective to a medical framework.

The medicalization process impacts how society views the individual's responsibility for their behavior and the types of interventions deemed appropriate. For instance, the redefinition of excessive drinking from a moral failing to a medical condition known as alcoholism illustrates how attitudes and responses to certain behaviors can change with medicalization.