Readings

Hi Class, just to address any confusion as to what you need to make sure you've read...


- Medicine, Media and Popular Culture:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2001/03/drug.html;
http://nymag.com/nymetro/health/features/3122/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/99463.php

- The Social Construction of knowledge:
Freund: Chapter 9;

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0030178


- Social Control and the Medicalization of Deviance
Freund: Chapter 6;

Let me know if you have any questions... GOOD LUCK! Also, as a reminder, this exam is worth 15 points so it'll be a little shorter.

2nd meeting time

From what I heard in class today it sounded like not many people can make it to today's study group. If there are those who had wished to be in today's group that cannot make it I will be meeting again tomorrow at 3:30 in the windward cafe for those who need it.

-Tyler

Last Minute Questions

If anyone has any last minute questions I will be monitoring the blog up until late wednesday night. Please feel free to post any questions and I will answer them as soon as possible.

-Tyler

Practice Questions

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.

Paxil Addiction

Study Group??

Hey guys,

Well there's another test coming up. How did everyone feel about the study group last time? Is there any interest in meeting again?

-Tyler

Harvard Professor Drug Representatives

Hey Everyone,

I found the article that Alex referenced in class. Take a look at it, it's rather startling. What do you all think about the prevalence of private interest in formal education??

-T

Medicalization

Hi Guys,

Hope you all had a wonderful vacation. We're getting back into the swing of things and focusing on the Medicalization of Society. Please read the new article "no free lunch".

-T