Abstract
In their concern with etiological questions, medical and behavioral scientists alike have overwhelmingly focused on the etiology of diseases. It is the thesis of this paper that the time has come to add to—though not to supplant—this focus by the serious consideration of the etiology of disease, in the singular. In order to avoid confusion, I propose to substitute the term “breakdown” to refer to the global entity which might be called disease. ‡ I argue that clarification and use of the breakdown concept will have fruitful implications for understanding the etiology of all those departures from the social norm we call health, for therapeutic purposes, for a more adequate structuring of the health professions, and for research in medical sociology. The concept of breakdown, I suggest, must be adopted as a fourth major step in the thinking of modern medicine.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
