pathologizing

Pathologizing is the act of designating a behavior, condition, or human experience as pathological, i.e., as a disease or disorder. In medicine, psychology, and the social sciences it refers to medicalization—the process by which non-medical problems are framed and treated as medical issues. The term is used in critical theory and sociology to examine how definitions of normality and abnormality are constructed and enforced through classification systems, clinical practice, and policy.

Pathologizing can operate at multiple levels: individuals may be diagnosed with a mental illness or developmental condition; institutions may formalize certain behaviors as deviant or maladaptive; cultures may label identities, emotions, or rituals as abnormal. Examples include medical labeling of various distress patterns, or historical classifications that pathologized sexuality or gender diversity. While pathologizing can facilitate access to treatment and support, it can also carry stigma, justify coercive interventions, and contribute to overdiagnosis or the normalization of medical control over ordinary life experiences.

Critics argue that excessive pathologizing obscures social determinants of suffering, reduces agency, and reinforces power imbalances in healthcare and society. They advocate critical psychiatry, the social model of disability, and approaches that differentiate between distress caused by social conditions and conditions that require medical intervention. They emphasize culturally sensitive diagnostic practices and respect for individual experiences alongside evidence-based care.

Related terms include medicalization, stigma, diagnostic criteria, and classifications such as the DSM and ICD.