Mental Illness: A Symbolic Interactionist Analysis

Throughout history, there have been individuals who are singled out for being different. Some were different in subtle ways such as having a slight limp when they walk or speaking with a lisp. Others were different in more extreme ways, perhaps outwardly talking about things that weren’t there or babbling incoherently.
The way we label these behaviors and traits has changed over history. This paper will focus on the symbolic interactionists’ examination of mental health. In particular, we will review Michael Foucault’s view of the social construction of mental illness.
Sociologist study how society affects mental illness. They don’t discount the biological and psychological aspects of mental illness but believe that society plays a role …show more content…
Labeling gave legitimacy to problems and set the stage for physicians to seek treatment for their patients. As the medical profession advanced, professionals and social service organizations began to label illnesses via codes which gave them even more legitimacy.
The above process of the changing view of mental illness historically is, in part, what supports the constructionist view. A person who is abnormal in some form or fashion is affected by society’s view of their abnormality which in turn exacerbates the problem. The labeling and defining of the abnormality creates a deeper divide. For example, society can objectify the mentally ill and the mentally ill can accept the label and act in ways that support it.
A further point that supports the constructionist view is how the medicalization of mental illness is driven by industry. Pharmaceutical companies direct the research of medicine and are compelled to make money. For this reason they invest a lot in advertisements and doing presentations to physicians to promote their product. Similarly, insurance companies are compelled to guide the consumer down a path that is financially lucrative for