User:Grpryor3/sandbox

Social science perceptions challenge biomedical views on the true cause of ADHD symptoms. Symptoms are viewed by this perspective as a consequence of normalisation; where it has been constructed in culture/society that it is normal to be focused/well behaved/patient etc. and therefore abnormal to act differently. Furthermore, as Ruth Benedict outlined, in most modern cultures normal is associated strongly with being good, whereas abnormality usually carries bad connotations.

Although some may argue that the medicalization of what is constructed as socially detrimental behaviours would alleviate patients of responsibility for their actions, others would insist that it merely permits health professionals to exert influence over the care and management of such individuals. In addition, although disease based subjectivities caused by medicalization may be liberating for some, they can cause negative impacts such as oppression for others. Furthermore, medicalization of ADHD and the consequential biomedical treatment used to relieve symptoms can lead to iatrogenesis and added complications for the individual. Therefore not only do social science perspectives challenge the validity of the ‘disease’ but also highlight the negative social and medical aspects associated with treating the ‘symptoms’.