Medicalization

Definition

Medicalization is the process by which human conditions and problems come to be defined and treated as medical issues, often involving diagnosis, treatment, and medication. It represents a shift in how society views certain behaviors or states, seeing them not as normal variations of human life but as medical issues to be addressed.

Related terms

Pathologization: The process of viewing or treating a normal human condition as a pathological one, implying it is abnormal and needs treatment.

Biomedical model: A framework that explains diseases solely through biological factors, ignoring social and psychological aspects.

Iatrogenesis: Refers to any harm caused by medical intervention, whether physical or psychological