Post-structuralism, Critical Realism and Materialism in Relation to Mental Health Disorders - Essay Example

? Post-structuralism, Critical Realism and Materialism in Relation to Mental Health Disorders Post-structuralism developed to counter structuralism. The concept asserts that a slew of biases introduce themselves based on the framework proposed by the examiner. This has an impact on the quality of cultural products. Post-structuralism rejects the idea that cultural products are extremely essential arguing that cultural products are formed and, as a result, they are artificial. Post-structuralism aims at deconstructing the ideas of essentialism. This is supposed to pave the way for accurate discourse in multiple disciplines (Bhaskar & Hartwig 2010). Critical realism and post-structuralism is increasingly being viewed as one of the methods of addressing mental health disorders. Materialism theory suggests that the only reality that exists is the physical matter. The theory explains that everything including thoughts and feelings can be explained in terms of physical phenomena or matter (Collier 1994). This theory suggests that the physical well-being is the real value for life and places much value worldly concerns. This theory suggests that religious and spiritual ethics have no value. Critical realism suggests that there is an aspect of the world depends on the mind (Peters 2004). Some of the sense data represents external objects. Mental disorders need to be located in a broad social context and social relations. The post-structural accounts of psychopathology provide a historical account of the way mental disorders are constructed. This is supposed deconstruct the notions that mental disorders are static. Conceptualizations of psychopathology need to be viewed in light of the theories that influence mental stability (Peters 2004). This deconstruction tackles the contradictions that have been presented by the psychiatric texts. Post-structural theorists indicate that mental health disorders are not fixed. Post-structural analysts indicate that mental health disorders must take into account theoretical strands generated from health context (Marmot & Wilkinson 1999). Post-structuralisms understanding of mental health disorders are critical of biomedical psychiatric model’s view of madness. Mental health illnesses must be seen as an active concept with that cultural concepts and sociological aspects which vary with time and location. The cultural and social equality is one of the aspects that affect the mental wellness of the society. Critical realists shape expectations which must be met in clear timelines (Peters 2004). Failure to meet the expectations leads to an active process of mental and overall health instability. Post-structural theory suggest that sanity and insanity are not binary opposed. Mental health disorder is a symptom of social distress (Uhlmann 1999). According to studies, social repression is used to explain the high cases of mental disorder among women. Social oppression can give rise to mental disorders. Societal inequalities can have a direct impact to the health of individuals. Materialistic mindset can cause the poor members of the society to be tempted to join crime as a result of frustration. Madness can arise from socioeconomic hardships (Marmot & Wilkinson 1999). This creates a resistance to the society. Mental disorders are related to power (Petersen 1999). Oppressive regimes or authorities attract a response which may not look reasonable (Williams 2001). Psychiatry and psychology are connected to power relations. Transgression of patriarchal norms causes women to be called abnormal. The class differences in mental health can be explained through four approaches (Marmot & Wilkinson 1999). They include materialistic theory, social selection, structuralism and cultural behavior. The post-structuralism theory is said to contribute to improvement in mental health. The theory is said to have the ability to maintain the class differences in matters of psychological importance (Petersen 1999). Post-structuralism is said to create a free atmosphere when it comes to mental freedom and articulation of ideas (Trim 2008). Research shows that post-structuralism, critical realism and materialism are related to mental health and unemployment. There is disagreement over the capacity of structuralists and materialists (Peters 2004). There are distinctions between materialism and behavior. The concept of materialism emphasizes that the worth of life can be explained through physical materials. This means that the absence or inaccessibility of physical matter in life translates to mental instability or discomfort which can deteriorate in to mental disorder (Trim 2008). The selection is different from causation. Post- structuralism asserts that cultural products are formed. This means that they are artificial and not particularly prominent. The value placed on cultural products affect the mental expectations for the social players (Pillay & Freeman 1996). People place value of exclusive cultural products. According to materialists, access to poor housing, hazardous work and inadequate diet have profound effects on mental health. Materialism, therefore, have a direct influence on health (Williams 2001). Sociological assessment and analysis of health indicates that the materialism creates a bridge between psychological health and social structure. The social structure shows that the quality of life can influence the levels of isolation (Marmot & Wilkinson 1999). The distribution of income and wealth has a direct in the social standing. Critical realism depends on the capacity of the mind to process ideas and desires that influence the flow of wealth. The concepts are interrelated. The state of the mind has a relationship with the physical things in the world. This creates a practical link between critical realism and materialism (Petersen 1999). It also indicated the connection between materialism and social structure which refers to, as a result, the mental health. Research indicates that social structuring can cause mental health disorders and illness. The concept of critical realism and materialism indicates that life is a product of thoughts and mental anticipations or a response to pressure from social determinants (Wilkinson 1996). These social determinants are active in a post-structural environment (Peters 2004). There is a direct connection between capitalism, critical realism and actualization of purpose or satisfaction. The link between critical realists and actual individual life courses can be explained through the understanding of materialism concept (Uhlmann 1999). The post- structural concepts and behavior affects the individual attitude towards materialism. According to the black report, materialism and post structuralism are determined by income structure and class (Pillay & Freeman 1996). The resort categorically states that the income structure in the context of materialism has an impact on the mental well being. There are physical aspects of our environment, which determine our mental well being (Karasek &Theorell 1990). At the same time, the black report indicates that there are psychological mechanisms like education and economic capital that affect the mental health. In this context, the social capital is included in a materialist explanation (Kasser 2003). This idea suggests that the class culture is viewed as the superstructure in a materialistic world. The class structure is seen as responsible from mental and other health disorders which are propagated through inequality (Pillay & Freeman 1996). Research shows that there is an explanation that links the materialist’s perspective to psychosocial processes more than physical factors (Uhlmann 1999). This is cited as the mechanism that is manifested in health inequalities in the modern society. Mental instability can lead to high blood pressure and eventually stroke (Kasser 2003). When materialistic approach is used, it means that occurrences that cannot be explained physically can end up confusing those who subscribe to the theory (Karasek &Theorell 1990). Health of poor societies show low life expectancy compared to rich societies. However, the rich societies suffer from diseases of affluence like stroke and heart diseases compared to infections. The health of a society is not determined by the economic growth but by the extent of the differentiation of standards of living in the population (Kasser 2003). In countries that are developed, the life expectancy is higher than the countries with significant inequalities in the income of the populace. Therefore, materialism and critical realism have a connection with the health of a nation (Pillay & Freeman 1996). According to critical realists, there are aspects of life which are conceived at the level of mind. This means that they can affect the mental health and in extreme cases result to fatal mental disorders. However, a healthy balance between critical realism and post-structuralism is vital to mental health. In the modern society, relative poverty kills more than the absolute poverty. This explains why inequalities have a direct impact to the mental health (Uhlmann 1999). The stress generated from social inequalities has that ability to compromise the immunity system or result in disability (Karasek &Theorell 1990). Critical realism demands that the approach to life takes into account the mental expectations and the physical realities. The social inequalities are known to drive the youth to drugs and crime among other behavioral disorders. The distribution of income can influence the levels of chronic stress and improve social health (Wilkinson 1996). Social and health inequalities are a persistent feature in the world today. The issue arouses enough passion to cause mental arrest in family units and the general society. The social standing is related to the material possessions. The concept of critical realism does not deny materialism. It only suggests that materialism is not absolute. The line between causation and selection remains blurred. Income distribution is related to material influences and personal responsibility. Indeed, income redistribution is one of the methods that promote equality and standardized materialistic approach. The multiple conflicting, psychosocial mechanisms in the world continue to affect the concept of critical realism and materialism. Therefore, the issues must be addressed through a broad network of social and cultural approaches aimed at making the cultural and social practices inclusive and equitable. References Bhaskar, R., & Hartwig, M. 2010. The Formation of Critical Realism: A Personal Perspective 1st ed. Taylor & Francis. Collier, A. 1994. Critical Realism: An Introduction to Roy Bhaskar’s Philosophy. London: Verso. Karasek, R. and Theorell, T. 1990. Healthy Work: Stress, Productivity, and the Reconstruction of Working Life. New York: Basic Books. Kasser, T. 2003. The High Price of Materialism 1st ed. MIT Press. Marmot, M. and Wilkinson, R.G. eds 1999. Social Determinants of Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Peters, M. 2004. Poststructuralism and Educational Research 1st ed. Rowman & Littlefield. Petersen, A. R. 1999. Poststructuralism, Citizenship and Social Policy 1st ed. Routledge. Pillay, Y. & Freeman, M. 1996. Mental health policy & planning: Continuing the debates. Psychology in Society, 21, 60-71. Trim, J. G. 2008. Materialistic Values and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican-American Adults 1st ed. ProQuest. Uhlmann, A. 1999. Beckett and Poststructuralism,1st ed. Cambridge University Press Williams, S.J. 2001. Sociological imperialism and the profession of medicine revisited: where are we now? Sociology of Health and Illness, 23,2: 135–58. Wilkinson, R. G. 1996. Unhealthy Societies The Afflictions of Inequality. Routledge, London. Read More