psychologization

Psychologization, also spelled psychologisation, is a sociocultural process in which aspects of human experience—emotions, behavior, relationships, and even social problems—are explained and addressed primarily through psychological concepts, theories, and interventions rather than through social, political, or structural explanations. It involves the use of psychological language, diagnostic labels, and therapeutic ideas to interpret a wide range of phenomena, from personal difficulties to public policies.

The phenomenon operates across multiple domains. In education, for example, behavior management and social-emotional learning frame student conduct and development as matters of internal regulation and mindset. In mental health policy, emphasis on individual resilience and coping skills can supplement or replace attention to social determinants. In media and popular culture, everyday life is often narrated as a psychological story, with emphasis on internal motives, identity, and self-improvement. In the workplace, training programs and performance reviews may privilege emotional intelligence and psychological adaptability as keys to success.

Critics argue that psychologization can be overreaching and reductionist. It may pathologize normal distress or moral and social challenges as personal deficiencies, shifting responsibility away from structural conditions such as poverty, discrimination, or inadequate institutions. It can also medicalize ordinary life, encouraging self-surveillance and a preventative mindset that relies on individual interventions rather than collective solutions. Proponents note potential benefits in expanding access to support and reducing stigma, but the approach remains contested within sociology, anthropology, and psychology.

Related terms include medicalization, therapy culture, and the governance of the self, all of which intersect with psychologization in shaping how people understand and respond to their lives.