Experts recently classified severe premenstrual symptoms with marked mood changes that interfere with daily functioning as an official psychiatric diagnosis. This example reflects which perspective on health and illness?

Question

Experts recently classified severe premenstrual symptoms with marked mood changes that interfere with daily functioning as an official psychiatric diagnosis.  This example reflects which perspective on health and illness?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0d8f_df69_a3bf_dd5418cfe432_MD0008_00 Social constructionism is a sociological theory suggesting that "reality" is created through interactions, resulting in agreed-on, shared meanings. Objects (eg, money), behaviors (eg, hand shaking), and categories (eg, gender) have meaning only because individuals in society have agreed on that meaning. For example, money has value in society only because everyone has agreed that it has value; this makes money a social construct. Redefining severe premenstrual symptoms as an official psychiatric diagnosis reflects experts' consensus that a particular set of symptoms should be treated as a psychiatric disorder, thereby demonstrating an agreed-on, shared meaning (ie, the social constructionism perspective). (Choice A) Conflict theory, a macrosociological perspective that examines how inequalities between social classes cause conflict, does not deal with the creation of agreed-on, shared meaning. (Choice B) Functionalism, a macrosociological perspective that analyzes how social structures work together in society to maintain equilibrium, does not deal with the creation of agreed-on, shared meaning. (Choice C) Social exchange theory, a microsociological perspective that asserts that individuals interact with each other to maximize personal gain and minimize personal cost, does not deal with the creation of agreed-on, shared meaning. Educational objective: Social constructionism is a sociological theory suggesting that "reality" is created through interactions, resulting in agreed-on, shared meanings (social constructs). Social constructs (eg, gender) are defined and maintained through the process of social interaction.

Experts Recently Classified Severe Premenstrual Symptoms with Marked Mood Changes